Monique Young is to join the cast of Gypsy: A Musical Fable, a Buxton Opera House and Buxton International Festival production which is expected to be “one of the highlights of Buxton’s cultural calendar”.
Young will play Louise, also known as Gypsy Rose Lee. She was Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at the Theatre du Chatelet, Paris in 2016 and is currently playing the lead in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End.
Young joins the previously announced Joanna Riding in the role of Rose. The cast also comprises David Leonard (Herbie), Hannah Everest (June), Rebecca Lisewski (Mazeppa), Aiesha Naomi Pease (Electra), Tiffany Graves (Tessie Tura), Liam Dean (Tulsa) and James Rockey (uncle Jocko). Other roles are played by Michael Dean-Wilson, Lisa Dent, Callum Mann, Alex O’Reilly, Megan Hollie Robertson and Samuel Ashall.
Paul Kerryson, artistic director and chief executive of Buxton Opera House, will direct. The creative team includes conductor Ben Atkinson, choreographer David Needham, assistant director Juliet Gough, set designer Phil R Daniels, costume designer Charles Cusick Smith, lighting designer Jake Wiltshire and sound designer Andy Johnson.
Buxton International Festival’s artistic director Adrian Kelly said, “it’s particularly exciting that the festival’s collaboration with Buxton Opera House is continuing this year with Gypsy.
“The last few years have been hugely challenging for everybody in the performing arts and we’re delighted to be working together once more to bring this wonderful piece of musical theatre to life.”
Gypsy: A Musical Fable will be performed at Buxton Opera House on Thursday 7, Saturday 9, Wednesday 13 and Sunday 24 July.