The Commitments - cast changes announced
Casting news
CAST changes have been announced for The Commitments, which is currently booking at the Palace Theatre until April 19, 2015.
From today, September 16, 2014, the lead role of Deco will be played by Brian Gilligan, who played drummer Billy ‘The Animal’ Mooney last year, after a quite remarkable turn of events.
The associate director of the production, C Jay Ranger, was backstage at The Palace Theatre, making her way upstairs to the offices when from the stairwell she heard the most astonishingly powerful, stirring voice launching into the vocals of Marvin Gaye’s soul classic I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Completely taken aback by the raw, soulful sound, she followed it up flight after flight of stairs, until she discovered Brian Gilligan, headphones on and in a world of his own, in a musical moment that would change his life.
C Jay immediately recommended Gilligan to Director Jamie Lloyd, who saw him for an audition and Gilligan was cast only a few weeks later. Gilligan will now be taking to the stage as Deco; a role he has coveted and admired since being enthralled by the way Roddy Doyle brought him to life in his best selling novel.
On being cast in the role of Deco, Brian said: “I still can’t quite believe I’m playing the lead role in The Commitments! It’s every Dubliner’s favourite story and being from the North-side of Dublin myself, it’s a privilege and an honour to be bringing Deco to life on stage. He’s such a brilliant character; I can’t wait to get started.”
The role of Billy Mooney will now be played by John Currivan, who will be making his West End debut. Currivan hails from the north side of Dublin and has always had a strong connection with The Commitments, even recognising his local area in the film, when his parents finally let him watch it.
Also joining the lead cast, in the role of bouncer-come-drummer Mickah, is another West End debutant, the multi-talented Sam Fordham. An actor, musician, film-maker and restaurateur, Fordham has been performing since he was 11 years old and is no stranger to the rhythm section as he played drums for groove-pop band, Daytona Nights. Fordham and Daytona Lights starred in Hollyoaks from 2011 – 2012, as fictional variations of themselves, and he’s hoping to channel his inner-punk to bring loose-cannon Mickah to life on-stage.
Playing the elder statesman in the group, Joey ‘The Lips’ Fagan, is Anthony Hunt, whose credits include Guys and Dolls. Joey is the band’s spiritually inspired trumpet player extraordinaire and the only original soul man, or so he’d have them believe. He has quite a way with the ladies too; they don’t call him ‘The Lips’ for nothing…
Joining The Commitmentettes, Dublin’s answer to The Supremes, in the role of Natalie will be Natalie Hope, who has been with the company as part of the ensemble cast since the show opened last year, and has now taken the step up into the lead cast to perform alongside Sarah O’Connor and Jessica Cervi in the sexiest and most feisty trio of soul singers in Barrytown.
Also stepping into the lead cast having spent last year in the ensemble is John McLarnon (We Will Rock You), who will be assuming the role of founding band member and lead guitarist, Outspan.
Remaining with the cast in the lead role of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working class music fan and the band’s manager, is Denis Grindel, who made his professional stage debut when the show opened in October 2013. Grindel has garnered rave reviews for his portrayal of the affable Jimmy, with the Sunday Telegraph describing him as “A genuinely charismatic star”.
Other cast members include Mark Dugdale (as Derek), Andrew Linnie (Dean) and Barnaby Southgate (James).
The Commitments tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced. The show follows the journey of two members of a frustrated synthesiser band – the opening scene has them playing but ignored in a shop window – who turn to Jimmy, the local music expert, for help.
Tickets: £10 – £67.50. To book, call the box office on 0844 874 0790 or visit www.thecommitments.london/.
Times: Tuesday to Sunday at 7.30pm, Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 2.30pm.
Read more about The Commitments