It is 35 years since The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle ‘s best-selling novel. The world’s hardest working and most explosive soul band are set to return in an all new stage production visiting Milton Keynes Theatre 24 — 29 October.
This major UK plus Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical will star Coronation Street legend Nigel Pivaro, who appeared in the hugely popular ITV soap between 1983 : 2012 as the lovable rogue Terry Duckworth. He will be swapping the cobbles for the stage and performing the particular role of ‘Da’ in this all-new production.
Nigel Pivaro says: “I am thrilled to be marking my return to the stage in this manufacturing of The Obligations. It’s an iconic story that resonates across the many years, about people who though distant from your music’s origins find communion and expression in the Motown style. A musical genre which was borne out associated with oppression plus which the characters embrace because their own. The Motown Sound is as vibrant today as it was when it first burst through in the particular Sixties. ”
Roddy Doyle added: “I’m delighted that The Commitments are coming back within 2022 & 2023 and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how Nigel Pivaro tackles the part of Jimmy Rabbitte’s Da. ”
This new trip for 2022/23 is directed by Andrew Linnie . Andrew made his West End debut in the original creation in 2013, playing the particular role of Dean, the band’s sax player. He then went on to star in the particular lead role of Jimmy Rabitte in the 2016/2017 UK visit.
Joining the cast since Deco will be Olivier Award nominee Ian McIntosh . Ian is no stranger to this role, having previously played Alternate Deco during the particular original Western End run. Previous credits include Galileo in the UK tour of We Will Rock You, Sid Worley in An Officer and a Gentleman and he was Olivier nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Musical’ for his role as Barry within Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. His extensive musical career has also seen him perform in Hair and Can’t Buy Me Love.
Other casting includes James Killeen as Jimmy, Stuart Reid as Joey, Ciara Mackey as Imelda, Michael Mahony as Oustpan, Ryan Kelly as Billy, Conor Litten as Dean, Guy Freeman as Derek, Stephen O ‘Riain as James, Ronnie Yorke as Mickah, Eve Kitchingman as Natalie, and Sarah Gardiner because Bernie. Maryann Lynch, Alice Croft , James Deegan, Callum Martin, Joshua Barton, Ed Thorpe and Colm Gleeson make up the ensemble.
In 2013 The particular Commitments music opened in London’s West End in order to universal critical acclaim plus enjoyed a record-breaking two-year residency at the Palace Theatre. After which, it hit the road for the major trip, invigorating audiences up and down the particular country throughout 2016 and 2017.
The rescheduled nine-month tour will see the show perform in front of fans all over the UK & Ireland, opening in Bromley in September and then playing Portsmouth, Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Hull, York, Bradford, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Wimbledon, Truro, Plymouth, Aylesbury, Dublin, Belfast, Ipswich, Bournemouth, Dartford, Bristol, Southampton, Nottingham, Northampton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Blackpool, Darlington, Peterborough, Cardiff, Llandudno, Manchester plus Reading before culminating within Newcastle in July 2023.
The Commitments musical has been adapted from the novel by Booker prize-winning author Roddy Doyle . Featuring a good electric playlist, The Obligations showcases more than 20 soul classics performed live on stage, including Night Train, Try A Little Tenderness, River Deep, Mountain High, Within The Midnight Hour, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Save Me personally, Mustang Sally , I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Reach Out, Uptight, Knock On Wood, We Can’t Turn You Loose and many more!
The particular Commitments tells the tale of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working-class music fan, who transforms an unlikely bunch associated with amateur musicians into an amazing live act, which becomes the finest soul band Dublin offers ever produced. Placing the classified advert in a music paper, Jimmy auditions a number of wannabes before finalising the members of their new music group, which he names ‘The Commitments’.
Humour kicks within as the band get to know each other and their instruments, grappling with inter-group differences as they muddle their way via early rehearsals for the band’s first gig. Just as these people improve plus begin to get a name for themselves, they will combust. The backing singers are more interested within the middle-aged horn playing story, the singer has entered Eurovision, the particular drummer provides walked out mid-gig and the saxophone player has dangerous leanings towards a jazz career.
