Full Cast Announced For the World Premiere of THE ASSASSINATION OF KATIE HOPKINS

Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd, Tamara Harvey, today announces full casting for the world première production of The Assassination of Katie Hopkins - a new musical from Chris Bush and Matt Winkworth. The production sees James Grieve, return to Clwyd to direct Rakesh Boury (Wesley), Ché Francis (Karl), Derek Hutchinson (Brian), Genesis Lynea (Nina), Maimuna Memon (Shayma), Amy Booth-Steele (Pam), Bethzienna Williams (Kayleigh) and Matthew Woodyatt (Richard). The production opens in the Emlyn Williams Theatre on Thursday 26 April with previews from Friday 20 April.

A shocking crime divides the nation. Fingers are pointed, sides are drawn, facts are hard to come by. Why did this happen? How do we move on? What must we remember?

It's easy to have an opinion online, safe behind the anonymity of a keyboard, just like, share and subscribe. But as the digital mob polish their pitchforks, the world starts to question just how free should free speech be.

A smart, witty new musical by Chris Bush and Matt Winkworth about truth, celebrity and public outrage.

Chris Bush is a Sheffield-born playwright, lyricist and theatre-maker. She was the 2013 Pearson Playwright in Residence for Sheffield Theatres and is currently an Artist in Residence at the Oxford Playhouse. Past work includes What We Wished For, A Dream, The Sheffield Mysteries (for Sheffield People's Theatre at the Crucible), A Declaration from the People (National Theatre), Larksong (New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme), ODD (Royal & Derngate, Northampton: concert performance), Sleight & Hand (Summerhall, Edinburgh/Odeon Cinemas/BBC Arts), TONY! The Blair Musical (York Theatre Royal/Tour), Poking the Bear (Theatre503), The Bureau of Lost Things (Theatre503/Rose Bruford), Wolf (National Theatre Studio: reading), Dickensian, Goodwill to All Men, We're all in this Together and 20 Tiny Plays about Sheffield (all Crucible Studio). Forthcoming work includes an adaptation of Pericles (National Theatre), The Changing Room as part of the National Theatre Connections and Steel (Sheffield Theatres). She has won the National Young Playwrights' Festival, a Brit Writers' Award, the Perfect Pitch Award and two Spotlight Emerging Artists' Awards.

Matt Winkworth is an Oxford-born composer, was the 2016-2017 artist-in-residence at The Oxford Playhouse and has won the Perfect Pitch Award. Credits include Elves And The Shoemaker (Jacquline du Pré, Oxford); High As Sugar (Brighton Fringe, Kings Head Theatre, Arts at the Old Fire Station); Attempts On Her Life, Under Milk Wood, Animal Farm (Oxford Playhouse); The Bureau Of Lost Things (Theatre503); ODD (Perfect Pitch/Royal & Derngate Northampton: concert performance).

Rakesh Boury plays Wesley. His theatre credits include The Wind in The Willows (London Palladium), Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre), Rock of Ages (UK tour), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Britain's Got Bhangra (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Buxton Opera House).

Ché Francis plays Karl. He recently graduated from LAMDA. His theatre credits include Toxic Avenger (Arts Theatre).

Derek Hutchinson plays Brian. His theatre credits include Amadeus (Chichester Festival Theatre), Cocktail Sticks, The Doctor's Dilemma (National Theatre), King Lear (Donmar Warehouse) and The Devil Inside Him (National Theatre Wales). For television his credits include George Gently, Versailles, The Casual Vacancy, By Any Means and Stella. For film his credits include Cinderella, I Give It A Year, V for Vendetta and Being Julia.

Genesis Lynea plays Nina. Recent theatre credits include Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties (Southwark Playhouse), The Bodyguard (Adelphi Theatre), In the Heights (King's Cross Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), Ode to Leeds (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and The Wild Party (The Other Palace). For television, her work includes 4 O'Clock Club.

Maimuna Memon plays Shayma. Her theatre credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), Winnie & Wilbur (Birmingham Rep), Lazarus (King's Cross Theatre), The Busker's Opera (Park Theatre) and Into The Woods (Royal Exchange Manchester).

Amy Booth-Steele plays Pam. Her recent theatre credits include A Pacifist Guide to the War On Cancer (Complicité and National Theatre), Anita & Me (Birmingham Rep & Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole 13¾ (Curve, Leicester), The Light Princess (National Theatre) and One Man, Two Guvnors (UK & international tour). For television her credits include Wannabee and The Windsors; and for film, Writers' Retreat and Kill Keith.

Bethzienna Williams is making her professional stage debut as Kayleigh. For television her credits include Our Girl.

Matthew Woodyatt plays Richard. His theatre credits include Moving Stories, One Man, Two Guvnors, Much Ado About Nothing and War Horse (National Theatre), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Sherman Cymru), Silly Kings, The Passion (National Theatre Wales), Privates On Parade (West Yorkshire Playhouse and Birmingham Rep), Fiddler On The Roof (Chichester Festival Theatre), Allegro (Southwark Playhouse) and Mack And Mabel (Criterion Theatre). For television his credits include Grandpa in My Pocket, The Passion - It Has Begun and Arrows Of Desire; and for film The Gospel Of Us.

James Grieve directs. He is joint Artistic Director of Paines Plough - the UK's national theatre of new plays. Credits for the company include Out Of Love, Black Mountain and How To Be A Kid (Roundabout, Theatr Clwyd and Orange Tree) Angry Brigade and Jumpers For Goalposts (Bush Theatre), Hopelessly Devoted (Tricycle Theatre, UK Tour) Wasted (Latitude Festival), Tiny Volcanoes (Liverpool Everyman) You Cannot Go Forward From Where You Are Right Now (Traverse Theatre). Other credits include award-winning Translations (Sheffield Theatres), The Whisky Taster, Psychogeography (Bush Theatre) and The List (Arcola Theatre).

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