Local Children Set to Sparkle and Shine in NATIVITY THE MUSICAL at the Belgrade Theatre

Following a series of open auditions taking place across the summer, the producers of Nativity! The Musical have now officially revealed the local children who will sparkle and shine in the show, both at home in Coventry and out on tour.

Co-produced by the Belgrade Theatre together with Jamie Wilson, Entertainment One and Ramin Sabi, the second UK tour of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre's production of Nativity! The Musical kicks off in Coventry this October, with two lots of local youngsters taking to the stage.

Carefully selected from across the Midlands, the children of St. Bernadette's School will embark on the full tour of the show, performing in venues across the country. Aged 9-12, these stars-in-the-making include Ami Bakayoko, Evie Bennell-Low, Niamh Brady, Demi Delord, Joseph Duffy, Tommy Gallagher, Alexander Hogg, Kheiri Isaac Osmani, Betsy Jiggins, Ben Lee, Marlie Olivia Love, Harry Martin, Joshua Millard-Lloyd, Jasmine McKenna, Amy-Louise Mulhall, Celie Newman, Gerald Ngwenya, Lyla Peters, Katelyn-Janet Rollason, Aston Sidwell, Nicholas Vakis and Angeli Yunesse Sagala.

Meanwhile, an additional group of 14 kids from in and around Coventry will also appear exclusively in the Belgrade leg of the tour as the pupils of the rival Oakmoor School. These will be Rex Murphy Hogg, Amyah Stevens, Olivia Rose Brown, Erin Jones, Niamh Crowley, Daisy Edgerton, Hudson Mansour Webb, Eloise Petts, Mya Wilkins, Daisy Fitzpatrick, Nuala Peberdy, Oscar Heath, Lyla Toplass and Wilfred Urwin.

Together, these bright young stars will join a glittering cast of West End stars announced today, including the hugely popular Simon Lipkin, who returns as the excitable Mr Poppy, after delighting audiences during the show's 2017 run. Lipkin is also set to star in the forthcoming Nativity Rocks - the fourth film in the smash hit Nativity! film series, due for release in November 2018.

Co-starring as the ever-exasperated Mr Maddens will be Scott Garnham, whose previous theatre credits include the UK tour of Billy Elliot the Musical and the West End productions of Les Misérables and I Can't Sing.

Ashleigh Gray will also appear as Mr Maddens' ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lore. Gray is best known for playing the leading role of Elphaba in Wicked in the West End and on tour. Her other theatre credits include Vanities and Cool Rider.

Completing the adult cast will be Andy Barke, Andy Brady, Jamie Chapman, Jemma Churchill, Gary Davis, Kade Ferraiolo, Ashleigh Graham, Helena Pipe and Oscar Conlon-Morrey.

Based on the smash hit 2009 film, Debbie Isitt's Nativity! The Musical tells the story of a group of children from an ordinary school as they attempt to stage the best nativity play the world - or at least Coventry - has ever seen! Join teacher Mr Maddens and his crazy teaching assistant Mr Poppy as they struggle with hilarious children, an ambitious headteacher, and the possibility of Hollywood producers in this feel-good festive comedy for all the family, packed with favourite songs including Sparkle and Shine, Nazareth and One Night One Moment.

Written and directed by Debbie Isitt with music and lyrics by Nicky Ager and Debbie Isitt, Nativity! The Musical is choreographed by Andrew Wright and designed by David Woodhead, with lighting design by Tim Mitchell. Sound design is by Tom Marshall and orchestrations and musical direction is by George Dyer.

Following the tremendous success of its 2017 tour, Nativity! The Musical returns home to the city where the story started, opening a new tour at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry 23-28 October. Tickets are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055 or visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are even cheaper.

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