Comedian Ross Noble, who comes from Cramlington, is to join the cast of The Producers at Sunderland Empire. He will appear as Franz Liebkind at the Friday and Saturday performances (15 and 16 May).
Noble was due to take over the part from Phill Jupitus at the New Victoria Theatre in Worthing the following week but this week the Ambassador Theatre Group announced that Noble would join the cast two days early to perform at the only north east venue on the tour.
Noble is pleased: "when the opportunity came up to make my debut in the show a couple of days early in the north east," he said, "I jumped at the chance."
Also in the cast of The Producers, which runs at the Empire from 11 to 16 May, are Jason Manford as Leo Bloom, Cory English as Max Bialystock, David Bedella as Roger de Bries and Tiffany Graves as Ulla.