Leicester’s Curve theatre has announced the full company joining its new Made at Curve production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita, running 27 November 2023 to 13 January 2024.
Joining the previously announced Martha Kirby as Eva Perón and Tyrone Huntley as Che will be Gary Milner (The Third Man, Menier Chocolate Factory; Doctor Zhivago, The Broadway Theater) as Perón and Chumisa Dornford-May (Aspects of Love, Lyric Theatre) as Mistress and cover Eva Perón. Dan Partridge, who since 2019 has starred as Danny Zuko in Curve’s hit production of Grease the Musical in the West End and on UK tour, joins the cast as Magaldi.
The company will be completed by Tia Antoine-Charles, Jacob Atkins, Tanisha-Mae Brown (cover Mistress), Harrison Burley, Harry Chandler (cover Che), Shona Eaton, Jacob Fisher (cover Magaldi), Olivia Foster Browne, Ashley Gilmour (cover Perón), Jack Harrison-Cooper, Jordan Isaac, Tamsin January, Fallon Mondlane, Samuel Routley, Toby Seddon, Darcey Simmons, and Rebecca Wickes.
The Made at Curve production of Evita will be directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot the Musical, The Wizard of Oz, A Chorus Line), with set design by Michael Taylor (Billy Elliot the Musical), musical supervision from Stephen Brooker (Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, White Christmas), Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Funny Girl, UK tour) and choreography by World Choreography Award-winning Adam Murray (Rocketman, Cruella, The King’s Man). The production team will also include Costume Designer Edd Lindley (Billy Elliot the Musical), Lighting Designer Joshie Hariette (Sucker Punch), Sound Designer Adam Fisher (The Wizard of Oz), and Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer Sam Cox. Casting is by late Curve Associate Kay Magson CDG and Olivia Laydon.
An nine-piece band led by musical director Ben van Tienen (La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), will bring the show’s score to life with sponsorship from musical licensing company PPL.
Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:
“We are thrilled to welcome such a terrific company of performers to join us this Christmas at Curve for our production of Evita. With Martha Kirby, Tyrone Huntley, Gary Milner, Chumisa Dornford-May and Dan Partridge at the helm, we cannot wait to see this phenomenal cast raise Curve’s roof with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s epic musical.
“This production is dedicated to our Curve Associate Artist and Casting Director of Evita, Kay Magson, who recently passed away. Kay worked on the casting of most of our Made at Curve productions over the past decade, delivering astonishing artists to our stages and often helping young actors make their stage debuts. Kay wasn’t able to complete casting on Evita, but secured Martha and Tyrone and laid the groundwork for the fantastic casting director Olivia Laydon to join us.
“We are all looking forward to getting started and creating an extra special Christmas show that Leicester can be proud of.”
Accessible performances will be available throughout the run of Evita, including Audio Described performances on Friday 15 December at 7:30pm (with a Touch Tour from 6pm) and Thursday 11 January 2024 at 2:15pm (with a Touch Tour from 12:45pm). The performance on Tuesday 19 December at 7:30pm will be British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted, and performances on Wednesday 20 December at 7:30pm and Thursday 28 December 2:15pm will be Captioned. A Relaxed performance, for those who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, will take place on Saturday 6 January 2024 at 2:15pm. A Dementia Friendly performance, tailored to support audience members living with Dementia, their families, friends and carers, will take place on Wednesday 10 January 2024 at 2:15pm.
