Full cast revealed for world premiere of new Beatles musical SHAKE IT UP BABY!
Full casting has been announced for a riveting new musical about The Beatles’ Hamburg years, Shake It Up Baby! by Ian Salmon, which will premiere at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre from 26 September-11 October.
Liverpool favourite Andrew Schofield will star as the band’s first manager Allan Williams, alongside a talented cast of young actor-musicians including Michael Hawkins as John Lennon, Guy Freeman as Paul McCartney, James Jackson as George Harrison and Nick Sheedy who will appear as both Pete Best and Ringo Starr.
The stellar line-up is completed by Kieran Andrew, Andrew Copperthwaite, Grace Galloway, Connor Simkins, and Jess Smith.
In August 1960, five teenage lads – who thought they knew all the world but had no idea – jumped in the back of a van and left their homes in Liverpool to head to the most dangerous city in Europe. From there? They changed the entire world.
This is a story about how the worst group in Liverpool became the greatest group the globe has ever seen: a story about what it took to allow The Beatles to become THE BEATLES.
It’s a tale of dreamers, visionaries, of sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, love and loss, hope and failure and absolute success.
It’s the story of The Beatles’ two years in Hamburg, told with the classics of American rock ‘n’ roll they played across the Indra, Kaiserkeller and the Star Club, as well as here at home at the Cavern and Litherland Town Hall.
Shake It Up Baby! will give you a new view on the start of a story you only think you know.
Shake it up Baby! will be directed by Stephen Fletcher, with dance consultancy by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, arrangements and musical direction by George Francis, set and costume design by Alfie Heywood, and sound by Kate Harvey.
Stephen Fletcher said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to reveal our full cast for the world premiere of Ian Salmon’s Shake It Up Baby! It’s been remarkable during the audition process to see the sheer breadth and depth of talent here in Liverpool, and I know all the young actors and musicians who have been chosen will be fantastic in their roles.
“Shake It Up Baby! is an exciting story about The Beatles’ time from Liverpool to Hamburg and on the brink of fame and fortune. It’s a story of success, love, fate, but also sadness.
“I’m looking forward to getting into the rehearsal room now and working with the whole brilliant team of creatives to bring Ian’s amazing story to life – and to ensure we ‘mach schau’, as Bruno Koschmider would say, for audiences at the Epstein Theatre.”