THE COMMITMENTS Returns to Theatre Royal in December

Theatre Royal, Glasgow is thrilled to welcome back THE COMMITMENTS this festive season for a showstopping week of soul rock and roll.

Perfect for a Christmas night out, THE COMMITMENTS returns to Theatre Royal by popular demand after a sell-out run in 2016 as part of a UK tour, which also has dates in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, from Monday 5 until Saturday 10 December.

Starring Coronation Street's Nigel Pivaro - who appeared in the hugely popular ITV soap between 1983 and 2012 as the lovable rogue Terry Duckworth - the musical takes to the stage 35 years after The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle's best-selling novel of the same name. The novel then went onto become a critically acclaimed film starring Robert Arkins and Andrew Strong with a soundtrack packed with classics including Mustang Sally and Try a Little Tenderness.

THE COMMITMENTS tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working-class music fan, who transforms an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, which progresses to be the finest soul band in Dublin.

Placing a classified advert in a music paper, Jimmy auditions a number of wannabes before finalising the members of his new band, which he names THE COMMITMENTS. Humour kicks in as the band get to know each other and their instruments, grappling with inter-group differences as they muddle their way through early rehearsals for the band's first gig. Just as they improve and begin to get a name for themselves, they combust. The backing singers are more interested in the middle-aged horn playing legend, the singer has entered Eurovision, the drummer has walked out mid-gig and the saxophone player has dangerous leanings towards a jazz career.

Nigel Pivaro said: "I am thrilled to be marking my return to the stage in this production of The Commitments. It's an iconic story that resonates across the years, about people who though distant from the music's origins find communion and expression in the Motown style. A musical genre which was borne out of oppression and which the characters embrace as their own. The Motown Sound is as vibrant today as it was when it first burst through in the Sixties."

Roddy Doyle added: "I'm delighted that The Commitments are coming back in 2022 & 2023 and I'm particularly looking forward to seeing how Nigel Pivaro tackles the part of Jimmy Rabbitte's Da."

James Haworth, Theatre Director at Theatre Royal said: "I'm thrilled that The Commitments is coming back to Glasgow. This show went down a treat in 2016 and tickets are already in high demand. For the best choice of seats, try booking for a midweek performance."

This production is directed by Andrew Linnie who made his West End debut in the original production in 2013, playing the role of Dean, the band's sax player. He then went on to star in the lead role of Jimmy Rabitte in the 2016/2017 UK tour.

Joining the cast as Deco is Olivier Award nominee Ian McIntosh. Ian is no stranger to this role, having previously played Alternate Deco during the original West End run. Previous credits include Galileo in the UK tour of We Will Rock You, Sid Worley in An Officer and a Gentleman and he was Olivier nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role as Barry in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical. His extensive musical career has also seen him perform in Hair and Can't Buy Me Love.

The cast also includes James Killeen as Jimmy, Stuart Reid as Joey, Ciara Mackey as Imelda, Michael Mahony as Oustpan, Ryan Kelly as Billy, Conor Litten as Dean, Guy Freeman as Derek, Stephen O'Riain as James, Ronnie Yorke as Mickah, Eve Kitchingman as Natalie, and Sarah Gardiner as Bernie. Maryann Lynch, Alice Croft, James Deegan, Callum Martin, Joshua Barton, Ed Thorpe and Colm Gleeson make up the ensemble.

In 2013 The Commitments musical opened in London's West End to universal critical acclaim and enjoyed a record-breaking two-year residency at the Palace Theatre. It then hit the road for a major tour in 2016 and 2017, invigorating audiences up and down the UK.

The Commitments musical has been adapted from the novel by Booker prize-winning author Roddy Doyle.

Featuring an electric playlist, The Commitments showcases more than 20 soul classics performed live on stage, including Night Train, Try a Little Tenderness, River Deep, Mountain High, In the Midnight Hour, Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Save Me, Mustang Sally, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Reach Out, Uptight, Knock on Wood, I Can't Turn You Loose and many more!

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