Anabel Kutay, Simon Hardwick and More Star in DRUNK at Leicester's Curve Theatre, Beg. Tonight

The McOnie Company presents its inaugural production DRUNK, a theatre-dance revue which will premiere at Leicester's Curve Theatre tonight 28 January 2014 before transferring to London'sBridewell Theatre from Wednesday 5 February 2014. On sale now.

The cast features Anabel Kutay as Absinthe, Simon Hardwick as Cider, Katy Lowenhoff as Champagne, Ashley Andrews as Scotch, Gemma Sutton as Ice, Fela Lufadeju as Rum, Lucinda Laurence as Vodka and Daniel Collinsas Martini.

Anabel Kutay's recent dance credits include Play Without Words, Dorian Gray and Swan Lake, all for Matthew Bourne's company New Adventures. Musical Theatre work includes Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre, the UK Tour of Flashdance The Musical, the White Queen in Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall and The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. Anabel was also a contestant on BBC's So You Think You Can Dance.

Simon Hardwick recently starred as Al in the Broadway production of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. Other recent credits include the UK Tour of Footloose, High School Musical at the Hammersmith Apollo, Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre and Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Katy Lowenhoff joins Drunk direct from Matthew Bourne's hugely successful UK and International production ofSleeping Beauty. Katy has also performed for Matthew Bourne in Play Without Words, in the principal role of Clara in Nutcracker!, Vivien in Cinderella and Spanish Princess in the UK and International Tour of Swan Lake. Other dance work includes Adam Cooper's Shall We Dance at Sadler's Wells and English National Ballet's Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall.

Ashley Andrews has recently appeared in the UK Premiere tour of 9 to 5 The Musical, Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre and the UK Tours of Fame, High School Musical and Never Forget. Dance work includes Shoes at Sadler's Wells.

Gemma Sutton is currently starring as Roxie Hart in Chicago at Curve Theatre, Leicester. Other recent work includes Amber Von Tussle in the UK Tour of Hairspray, covering the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, Laurey in the UK Tour of Oklahoma! and Gone With The Wind at the New London Theatre.

Fela Lufadeju is currently appearing in Chicago at Curve Theatre, Leicester. Other recent credits include Duane in the UK Tour of Hairspray and Jordan in the UK Tour of Dirty Dancing.

Lucinda Laurence's recent credits include Kiss Me Kate at The Old Vic Theatre, the UK Premiere tour of Wonderful Town, Gladys in 42nd Street at Chichester Festival Theatre, Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre and the UK Tour of Mary Poppins.

Daniel Collins recently returned from playing Lord Rupert in the US Tour of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty, a role he originated in last year's World Premiere at Sadler's Wells. Other work for Matthew Bourne includes the principal role of Fritz in Nutcracker!, Cinderella, Swan Lake and Play Without Words. Musical Theatre work includes On The Town at the Théâtre du Châtelet and London Coliseum and the UK tour of Sinatra.

What's your poison..?

Celebrating one of man's greatest vices, Drunk is a wickedly delicious cocktail of theatre and dance that takes audiences on an intoxicating journey through some of history's greatest tipples, and the victims who fall prey to their mood altering qualities. From the 'Shots', the stag do lads with an aggressive case of 'little man syndrome'; to 'Vodka', the ageing and diet conscious Russian actress living in the faded glamour of her past, Drunk is an irreverent and affectionate look at what the drink we order says about us. With an original score from award-winning composer Grant Olding, a live band and a talented company of dancers that will pop your cork, Drunk is a frenetic dance-drama that explores the relationship we have with our ultimate drug of choice: alcohol. Get ready; this is theatre dance under the influence.

Drew McOnie is fast becoming one of the UK's most sought after choreographic talents. 2013 has seen Drew collaborate with Matthew Bourne on an original piece for the Coronation Festival Gala at Buckingham Palace, broadcast on BBC1, and most recently choreographing the critically acclaimed new production of Chicago at Leicester's Curve Theatre. Other recent credits include West Side Story for NYMT at Victoria Warehouse, 13directed by Jason Robert Brown at the Apollo Theatre, Laurel and Hardy at the Watermill Theatre, Kiss of the Spider Woman at Arts Educational School and the UK Tour of James and the Giant Peach. Drew also created his first major dance piece Making Midnight at Jermyn Street Theatre in 2012 which was revived at this year's Latitude Festival.Forthcoming projects include new dance feature film Out of Step which will start filming in 2014 and a brand new commission for the National Youth Ballet.

Grant Olding is best known for composing the live music for the National Theatre's production of One Man, Two Guvnors, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Score and won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Score. His other work for stage includes composing the scores for Timon of Athens, Travelling Light,England People Very Nice, The Man of Mode, The Alchemist and Southwark Fair, all for the National Theatre, the UK Tour of James and the Giant Peach, Canvas, and Wallenstein at Chichester Festival Theatre, Broken Glass at the Tricycle and Vaudeville Theatres and Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Grant's musical theatre scores include Simply Cinderella at Curve Theatre, Leicester and Tracy Beaker Gets Real at Nottingham Playhouse. Grant is currently scoring animated feature film Saving Santa, featuring the voices of Martin Freeman, Tim Curry, Tom Baker and Joan Collins.

The McOnie Company is a hot-blooded new Theatre-Dance Company, whose aim is to bridge the gap between musical theatre and pure dance audiences, bringing passionate and accessible dance productions to as many people as possible. The Company will bring top-level dancers from various disciplines together to collaborate with creative practitioners from all corners of the arts, creating exciting, relevant and vibrant pieces of Theatre-Dance.

DRUNK is conceived, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, with music and lyrics by Grant Olding and set and costume design by Ryan Laight. It is produced by Lucy Ockenden for The McOnie Company in association with Jim Zalles and Curve Theatre, Leicester.

Website: www.themconiecompany.com; Twitter: @McOnieCompany; Facebook: facebook.com/McOnieCompany

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