Sounds of the sixties with a West End set

A new musical set against the backdrop of London’s West End in the 1960s stars Sid Owen as “Jumpin’ Jack” and Verity Rushworth as “Penny Lane”.
©Kate Green/Alpha Press. Tricia Adele Turner with Director Bob Thompson Verity Rushworth and other cast members©Kate Green/Alpha Press. Tricia Adele Turner with Director Bob Thompson Verity Rushworth and other cast members
©Kate Green/Alpha Press. Tricia Adele Turner with Director Bob Thompson Verity Rushworth and other cast members

The show explores the ‘60s as a time of hope and freedom and will feature hits from the era including You Really Got Me, Let’s Spend the Night Together, Go Now and many more.

Universal Music will be releasing a compilation album with original tracks of music used in the show.

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The musical is the brainchild of music agent Carl Leighton-Pope, who said: “I was 18 in 1964 and all the characters in this musical are people I met at that time. Carnaby Street was somewhere everyone went on a Saturday to hang out with other mods and the rock stars of the day. It was a time of great optimism and the Carnaby Street musical truly represents this life-changing era.”

Sid Owen, best-known as Ricky in EastEnders, takes on the role of Jumpin’ Jack, a wheelin’ dealin’ band manager out to make money on the streets of 60’s Soho.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be moving from Albert Square to Carnaby Street!

“The show encompasses everything that I love about the swinging Sixties - the great music, the fashion, the eccentricity… This fantastic show will make my musical theatre debut and I’m so excited to join the cast.”

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Verity Rushworth will play Penny Lane, the girl-next-door from Liverpool who follows her love to London.

Rushworth spent 10 years as Donna Dingle on Emmerdale before making her West End debut in the award-winning production of Hairspray in 2009.

Rushworth’s most recent stage work was replacing Connie Fisher in the lead role of Maria in the UK tour of The Sound of Music.

The cast also includes Tricia Adele-Turner (Legally Blonde, We Will Rock You), Mark Pearce (Ghost The Musical), Paul Hazel (Dancing in the Street, Desperately Seeking Susan) and Hugo Harold-Harrison (Priscilla Queen of the Desert).

The show is directed by Bob Tomson, whose West End credits include Blood Brothers and Dreamboats and Petticoats.

For tickets call 01424 462288.

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