Neil Morrissey to join cast of FOURTEEN AGAIN at Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced that Neil Morrissey will join the previously announced Ria Jones and Sally Ann Triplett in the critically acclaimed production of Victoria Wood and Tom MacRae’s Fourteen Again, which begins previews at the London venue from 21 November, and runs until 27 February.
Morrissey (A Christmas Carol, Alexandra Palace) worked with Wood on the original West End run of Acorn Antiques: The Musical!.
The production played at the Victoria Wood Theatre, previously The Old Laundry Theatre, last spring, which was also renamed this year – the 10th anniversary of Wood’s death, by her close friends and collaborators, the husband-and-wife team, producer Charlotte Scott and designer Roger Glossop. To celebrate Wood’s life and work they commissioned Tom MacRae (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) to work with her songbook to create a brand-new musical, the inaugural production in the newly renamed venue.
Wood originally opened the venue, was a Trustee, and performed there many times. She also directed her own show Talent – which was co-produced with the Menier; and in 2013, her television film Housewife 49 was adapted for the stage especially for the venue.
Fourteen Again begins at the local Slimming Club, where Peggy is reunited with Lou, her best friend from school who she hasn’t seen since they were teenagers. As kids, no two friends were ever funnier or more fun, but here, now, today they are shadows of their younger selves - and a story unfolds of looking back to the future, full of comedy, love and pain, with Victoria Wood’s amazing songs moving the musical fast forward.
The creative team includes director Jonathan O’Boyle, musical supervisor, arranger & co-orchestrator Nigel Lilley, choreographer Sammy Murray, set designer Roger Glossop, costume designer Caroline Hughes, lighting designer Jason Taylor, sound designer Sam Glossop, video designer Leo Flint, and musical director & co-orchestrator Archie McMorran.
