Nina Söderquist Crowned New Lady of the Lake in 'Spamalot' West End

On Saturday, February 2 Nina Söderquist was crowned as the new Lady of the Lake for the hit West End Musical Monty Python's Spamalot.  Having won TV3's "West End Star," going head to head with Linda Holmgren in the Swedish live TV final, Nina received over 59% of the votes from the viewing public declaring her the winner.  Söderquist will have her first performance as The Lady of the Lake at the Palace Theatre on Monday February 11, 2008.

A 35 year old singing waitress from Hälsingland, Sweden, and a Lieutenant in the Swedish Army, Nina Söderquist has worked alongside many bands including Toto and The Bee Gees as well as collaborating with US singer Robin Beck.  She performed at the Victory Concert for Sweden's Olympic Gold winning Hockey Team, the Swedish Soccer League at the World Championships in Berlin and has performed in Afghanistan for the American troops.

For her "West End Star" audition Söderquist performed "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles and "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.  Her winning performances of "With One Look" from Sunset Boulevard, "Tonight" from West Side Story and Spamalot's "Diva's Lament" have now secured her the chance to join the multi award-winning, record-breaking Monty Python's Spamalot as their latest leading Lady.

"West End Star" held open auditions during September and October last year in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo where a panel of experts saw over a thousand girls.  The five finalists, voted for by the viewing public, have been rehearsing at London's Palace Theatre with the cast and crew of Monty Python's Spamalot led by British TV star Peter Davison who plays the legendary King Arthur and Broadway musicals star Marin Mazzie who is currently starring as The Lady of the Lake.  Over this period the finalists have returned to Sweden once each week to face the judges and the viewing public in a live TV sing-off.

The London production of Monty Python's Spamalot currently stars Peter Davison as King Arthur, Marin Mazzie as The Lady of The Lake, Robert Hands as Sir Robin, Steven Kynman as Prince Herbert, Graham MacDuff as Sir Dennis Galahad, Andrew Spillett as Patsy, Tony Timberlake as Sir Bedevere and Jake Nightingale as Sir Lancelot.  Alan Dale will take over the role of King Arthur from March 3.

In an exclusive arrangement between Swedish broadcaster TV3 and Python (Monty) Pictures an English language version of each episode is being made available online at the newly re-launched official Python website www.pythonline.com

Directed by Mike Nichols, Monty Python's Spamalot is "lovingly ripped-off" from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.  Book and lyrics are by Eric Idle with a Grammy Award-winning score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.  Other members of the Monty Python's Spamalot creative team include Casey Nicholaw (choreography), multiple Olivier Award-winners Tim Hatley (sets and costumes) and Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners.

Monty Python's Spamalot continues to play at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway having won more Best Musical awards than any other show in 2005.  A new production opened at the Las Vegas Wynn in 2007 and recently the Australian production opened in Melbourne.

The West End production of Monty Python's Spamalot performs at Palace Theatre, Cambridge Circus, London W1 and booking until September 27, 2008.

Show times are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday at 8PM; Fridays at 5:15PM & 8:30PM, Saturday Matinee at 3PM

Tickets: Monday – Thursday 8PM, Fridays 5:15PM & Sat 3PM
Stalls £55, £45, £35, Dress Circle £55, £35, Grand Circle £40, £30, £20, £15, Balcony £20, £15, Boxes £55, £35, £20

Friday 8:30PM & Saturday 8PM
Stalls £60, £47.50, £37.50, Dress Circle £60, £37.50, Grand Circle £42.50, £32.50, £22.50,  £17.50, Balcony £22.50, £17.50, Boxes £60, £37.50, £22.50

Family rates are also available. Call the box office at 0870 890 0142 of visit www.montypythonsspamalot.com

Nina Söderquist