Birmingham REP and Paines Plough have announced the cast and UK tour dates for Pop Music, a world première from Anna Jordan.
She said, “for years I felt the need to hide just how lowbrow some of my music choices were, covertly dancing in the kitchen to Kiss FM for hours on end and lingering longer in shops to scribble down lyrics of songs so I could find out what they were. But no more!
“Pop has been a huge part of my life, and part of my work too. I’ve become fascinated by the role music plays throughout our lives and how that role changes as we get older.
“I became particularly interested in exploring the statement ‘pop music makes promises it can’t keep’. I’m hugely excited that we get to tour Pop Music around the country and I’m thrilled to be working with Birmingham REP and Paines Plough.”
Director James Grieve added, “I’ve been a huge fan of Anna’s work for many years and I’m thrilled to be taking her joyous, riotous pop party to audiences the length and breadth of the UK.”
The new play charts two wedding guests’ rollercoaster journey through 30 years of pop. The cast features Katherine Kotz, Rakesh Boury and Ciaran Alexander Stewart.
Lighting design is by Tanya Stephenson, movement by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and sound design by Dominic Kennedy. Ben Smith is the associate sound designer and Elin Schofield is assistant director.
Pop Music will open at Birmingham REP from 12 until 22 September (press night 17 September) before touring to Liverpool, Peterborough, Bracknell, Brighton, St Albans, Norwich, Doncaster, Havant, Manchester, Derby, Selby, Preston, Washington, Lincoln, Beverly, Canterbury, Bordon, Lyme Regis, Guildford, Halifax, Banbury, Barking, Maidenhead, Bromsgrove, Berwick Upon Tweed and Whitehaven.
It will have integrated British Sign Language and captioning at the REP, Derby Theatre, The Garage, Norwich and Phoenix Arts, Bordon.
The REP will also tour Pop Music to community venues in areas of low cultural engagement across the city as part of the REP's “ongoing commitment to great art for all”.