Matt Cardle Joins West End's MEMPHIS

Multi-platinum selling recording artist and songwriter Matt Cardle, who rose to fame winning the seventh series of ITVs The X Factor will join the cast of Memphis THE MUSICAL in London, it is today announced. Cast and company of the award-winning 'Best Musical' at the Shaftesbury Theatre are delighted to welcome Matt who will star as radio DJ 'Huey Calhoun' from 6 July, taking over from Killian Donnelly who originated the role in the West End.

Matt will join Queen of British Soul, Beverley Knight who extends her run as club singer 'Felicia Farrell' in Memphis THE MUSICAL through October 2015.

Matt Cardle says: "I'm thrilled to be making my acting and West End debut in Memphis. From the first time I saw the show I felt I had a real connection with the character of Huey. It's no secret that I worked for many years before my breakthrough as a musician. I started my first band when I was 12 years old and spent at least 15 years recording albums and sending demos to record companies before finally having my voice heard. It was the united love from family and friends, similar to that at the heart of the Memphis story, that saw me through. I am truly honoured to be sharing the stage with the incredible Beverley Knight, I've admired her work for such a long time and can't wait to get started in the show".

Beverley Knight says: "I can't wait to continue my Memphis journey into the autumn with Matt - who will be a fantastic addition to our Memphis family. We all know he has a "fantastical" voice; I think many will be wonderfully surprised by his ability on stage. We are all going to miss Killian when he leaves but his last few weeks will be party time at the show! Bring it all on! Hockadoo!"

Booking for Memphis THE MUSICAL at the Shaftesbury Theatre continues through to the end of its scheduled run in the West End on 31 October 2015 with early plans in progress for a major tour of the UK and Ireland from Autumn 2016.

Written by Grammy® Award-winning David Bryan, a founding member of Bon Jovi, and Joe DiPietro, Memphis THE MUSICAL will continue to star Rolan Bell as 'Delray', Tyrone Huntley as 'Gator', Claire Machin as 'Gladys', Jason Pennycooke as 'Bobby' and Mark Roper as 'Mr. Simmons', with Keisha Atwell, Arielle Campbell, Mark Carroll, Joseph Davenport, Momar Diagne, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Kimmy Edwards, Hillary Elk, Laura Ellis, Charlotte Gorton, Yasmin Harrison, Benjamin Harrold, Waylon Jacobs, Rachel John, Dean Maynard, Devon McKenzie-Smith, Tim Newman, Simon Ray-Harvey, Jon Robyns, Ashley Rumble, Kyle Seeley, Helen Siveter, Dawnita Smith, and Alex Thomas.

Inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis THE MUSICAL follows the fame and forbidden love of a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break.

Olivier and Tony® Award-winning Memphis THE MUSICAL, which opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre to huge audience and critical acclaim in October last year, is Directed by Christopher Ashley with Olivier Award-winning Choreography by Sergio Trujillo, Scenic Design by David Gallo, Costume Design by Paul Tazewell, Lighting Design by Howell Binkley, Sound Design by the Olivier Award-winning Gareth Owen and Musical Direction by Tim Sutton.

MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL is produced in London by Junkyard Dog Productions, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Barbara Freitag, Joseph Smith and John Brant.

Listings

Where Shaftesbury Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP
Performances Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Ticket Prices £20 to £67.50
Box Office 0207 379 5399
Website memphisthemusical.com
Twitter twitter.com/memphismusical
Facebook facebook.com/memphisthemusical

Groups information

10+ Best Available £39.50
20+ Best Available £35.00
Group rates valid for all performances.

Education information

10+ Best Available £25.00
Plus 1 Free Teacher Per 10 Paid Pupils (11th ticket is free)
Valid Monday - Thursday performances at 7.30PM
and Wednesday matinees at 2.30PM
During term time
Download FREE production resources, specially developed with teachers for upper KS3, KS4 & KS5 pupils! Each interactive and easy-to-use pack contains resources and lesson plans to help enhance students' learning, plus additional resources to support classroom activities and provide inspiration for students' work.

Visit http://www.memphisthemusical.com/schools.asp for more information.

Matt Cardle is a singer with a four-octave vocal range, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and drummer. A lot has been written about him over the past four years, particularly that he didn't quite 'fit the mould' of the machine. Almost five years have passed since Matt was crowned the winner of the seventh series of The X Factor, guided by his mentor and friend Dannii Minogue, in front of an audience surpassing a staggering 19.1 million viewers. It is still the most successful series in the shows 12-year history and Matt historically won the public vote every week, with the exception of the first.

Now a multi-platinum selling recording artist, Matt's debut single 'When We Collide' / 'Many Of Horror', originally recorded by Biffy Clyro, sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone. The song spent three weeks at #1 and was nominated for Best British Single at the 2011 Brit Awards. This was followed by the Top 10 hit 'Run For Your Life' and platinum selling debut album. To date Matt has sold over 2.2 million records in the UK across three co-written Top 10 albums; 'Letters' (2011), 'The Fire' (2012) and 'Porcelain' (2013). Matt's last Top 10 single was the infectious duet 'Loving You' with Spice Girl Melanie C.

Southampton born and Essex raised, Matt completed his fifth sold-out UK tour in April 2014 playing 20 dates across the UK and Ireland. In September 2013 he performed 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' at Miss World in Bali, Indonesia in front of an audience of over two billion. Matt's performance of this song was voted the 3rd Best Moment in The X Factor history and has been watched over 20 million times on YouTube. This is all quite the achievement for someone who didn't quite 'fit the mould'!

Matt is currently putting the finishing touches to his 4th studio album. Working with Jim Eliot (Kylie Minogue / Ellie Golding / Will Young), John Beck (Corrine Bailey Rae / Indiana), Dimitri Tikiovoi (Goldfrapp / Charli XCX / Paloma Faith), Samuel Dixon (Sia / Adele) and Aaron Horn. The album is due for release later this year.

mattcardlemusic.com | @mattcardle