Casting has been announced for the return of Opera North’s award-winning production of Kiss Me Kate.
Stephanie Corley joins the cast of Kiss Me, Kate for the first time, in the role of Lilli Vanessi/ Kate. Stephanie has previously sung the title role in Opera North’s The Merry Widow, and has most recently played Tina in Jonathan Dove’s Flight at Scottish Opera. In a role which he made his own in the original 2015 production, Quirijn de Lang is back as Lilli’s ex-husband and tormentor-in chief, Fred Graham/Petruchio. His many recent roles at Opera North include Sam in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro.
Turning Fred’s head, Zoë Rainey comes to the role of Lois Lane/Bianca flushed with the success of An American in Paris at the Dominion. As well as knowing her way around the Great American Songbook, Zoë is an accomplished dramatic actor, and was a member of the stellar company assembled by Sir Kenneth Branagh for his 2015 residency at the Garrick.
Dancer, singer and actor Alan Burkitt returns as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, having played the role during Welsh National Opera’s run of Kiss Me, Kate in 2016 – which he followed with another trip to Tin Pan Alley in the lead role of Top Hat. Also returning from previous runs, Joseph Shovelton and John Savournin will reprise their scene-stealing turn as the dopey mobsters gifted one of Cole Porter’s most brilliant works, ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’.
Recently seen in the UK tour of Sister Act, Aiesha Pease exchanges her habit for Hattie’s apron and ‘Another Op’nin’, Another Show’. Talented singer and dancer Stephane Anelli, recently Dandini in Hackney Empire’s celebrated Cinderella, will lead the ensemble in ‘Too Darn Hot’ as Paul. His other West End roles have included Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain and Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever.
A veteran of stage and screen, James Hayes has the distinction of having appeared in more National Theatre productions than any other living actor. He returns as Harry Trevor/Baptista, after making his first foray into musicals in Opera North’s original production. Another An American in Paris alumnus, Jack Wilcox, plays Hortensio, while Malcolm Ridley, who has previously worked with the National Theatre (War Horse, West End) and Donmar (Ivanov) plays Harrison Howell.
Kiss Me Kate is conducted by James Holmes, directed by Jo Davies, set and costume design by Colin Richmond and choreographed by Will Tuckett.
Cole Porter’s iconic musical comedy comes to the London Coliseum for a two week run from 20-30 June. It will play the Leeds Grand Theatre in May and then move to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre in July.
