Singer-songwriter Robbie Williams paid a surprise visit to the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford to see rehearsals for its new musical The Boy in the Dress.
The show, based on the best-selling novel by David Walliams, features 16 original compositions by Williams and his writing partner Guy Chambers.
Williams said, “I'm a big fan of David's books, so when he approached Guy and me about writing the soundtrack to The Boy in the Dress, we were genuinely delighted.
“It's overwhelming to be in front of such a talented cast, hearing these words back, and the show itself touches all the right buttons in all the right places.
“I went to and was in a lot of theatre when I was a kid and I remember the overwhelming feeling of people clapping for me and cheering for me. It was the first time that I thought maybe I'm good at something, and to this day, that moment is still palpable.
“Looking at this young cast and seeing them perform, I feel like I know them because I've been them.”
The Boy in the Dress, directed by Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Gregory Doran, is adapted by former RSC writer-in-residence Mark Ravenhill.
The role of Dennis will be played by Oliver Crouch, Jackson Laing, Tom Lomas and Toby Mocrei. Darvesh, Dennis's best friend, will be played by Ethan Dattani, Shivain Kara-Patel, Kassian Shae Ahktar and Arjun Singh Khakh.
Asha Banks, Tabitha Knowles and Miriam Nyarko will play Lisa James, Dennis's fashion-savvy friend, while Alfie Jukes and Zachary Loonie will play his older brother John.
Rufus Hound plays Dennis's dad, Irvine Iqbal plays Raj, the shopkeeper, Natasha Lewis plays the mum of Dennis's best friend Darvesh, Forbes Masson plays Mr Hawtrey, the headmaster from Dennis's school, and Charlotte Wakefield plays Miss Windsor.
Other cast members include David Birch (Maudlin Street captain), Hannah Fairclough (ensemble), Max Gill (Big Mac), Ahmed Hamad (ensemble), Ryan Heenan (Rory), Charlotte Jaconelli (Lorna), Alim Jayda (ensemble), Christina Modestou (Miss Bresslaw), Alexander Moneypenny (Gareth), Clancy Ryan (ensemble), Cilla Silvia (ensemble), Jack Anthony Smart (swing), Ben Thompson (Oddbod), Jamie Tyler (St Kenneth's captain), Georgie Westall (swing) and Grace Wylde (Louise).
The production is designed by Robert Jones, choreography is by Aletta Collins, lighting is by Mark Henderson and sound is by Paul Groothuis and Tom Marshall.
The Boy in the Dress runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Friday 8 November until Sunday 8 March 2020.