Andrew Lippa's musical The Little Princess is to have its UK Premiere at the Royal Festival Hall starring Amanda Abbington and Danny Mac and we have the first photo by Michael Warley.

Danny Mac (Captain Crewe) and Amanda Abbington (Miss Minchin) in A Little Princess. Photo: Michael Warley

A Little Princess, with book and lyrics by by Brian Crawley (Violet), is based upon Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic childhood novel. It tells the story of Sara Crewe, as she is sent from her home in Africa to boarding school in London and separated from her father. As young Sara’s world is turned upside down, she must rely on her friends and imaginative powers to overcome her strict headmistress Miss Minchin and prove that every little girl deserves to be a princess.

A Little Princess will recieve its UK premiere at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall on 28 May 2018 at 7.30pm.

Multi Olivier Award-winner and Tony Award nominee Arlene Phillips CBE is directing the one-off semi-staged concert performance, which also features the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Amanda Abbington, best known for playing Mary Morstan, the wife of John Watson, in the BBC's global hit Sherlock (for which she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award, for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries) and series regular Miss Mardle in Mr Selfridge, will play tyrannical teacher Miss Minchin in her musical theatre debut.

She said this week: "I’m not the most confident performer on stage and it takes a lot for me to do something if it is out of my comfort zone but it is such a brilliant character that I couldn’t turn it down. I love playing villains because my default is to be nice to everybody so it is a treat for me to be a baddie."

Danny Mac, currently starring in his award-winning leading man role as Joe Gillis on the no.1 UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, acclaimed for his starring role in On The Town at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and a much-loved finalist on last year's Strictly Come Dancing (critics and bookies favourite, he broke Strictly records with his perfect Samba), will play Captain Crewe.

Joining them are Olivier Award winners Rebecca Trehearn (Julie in ShowBoat, City of Angels) who will play Miss Amelia and Adam J. Bernard (Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls) who will play Pasko. Alexia Khadime (Elphaba in Wicked star) will join the cast as Aljana.

The ensemble includes Elias Hendricks, Joanna Goodwin, Landi Oshinowo, Mark Dugdale and Rosanna Hyland supported by the graduating students from Arts Educational.

Thousands of youngsters auditioned for the 10 child star roles, and the successful girls are: Jasmine Sakyiama (in the title role of Sara Crewe), Jasmine Nituan (Becky), with Madeline Banbury, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Sophie Beswick, Olivia Cowley, Tia Figgett, Andie Jordan, Agatha Meehan, Natasha Raphael, Kate Woodman.

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