Blackpool Grand Theatre has announced the first cast members for its ‘theatre owned’ production, Around The World in 80s Days.
Laurie Denman joins the crew as musical director and arranger and joining the cast are Andrew Bentley as Phileas Fogg, Oliver Mawdsley as Passepartout, Daniel Cane who plays villain, Cassius Gold, and Christina Meehan who plays a company member. The shows will run throughout August.
Christina, 34, brings a Blackpool connection to the cast having first performed at Blackpool Grand as a child. She said, “the first time I was ever on stage was when I was just five years old and that was at the Grand with school, now nearly 30 years later I’m back!”
The musical, written and directed by Ian McFarlane to celebrate the theatre’s 125th anniversary, is based on Jules Verne’s novel combined with hits from the '80s. It tells the tale of gentleman adventurer, Phileas Fogg, and his valet Passepartout, racing against time mashed up with '80s chart toppers from the likes of Human League, Pet Shop Boys and Survivor.