New musical 42 BALLOONS to play at The Lowry in 2024

Photo credit: Josh Bird

It has been announced that the first full production of new musical 42 Balloons will play at The Lowry, Salford from 18 April – 19 May 2024.

2nd of July 1982.

Using a lawn chair and approximately 42 helium-filled weather balloons, truck driver Larry Walters defied all the odds (and FAA airspace regulations!) to make his lifelong dream a reality and fly sixteen thousand feet above Los Angeles.

No, seriously. In a chair.

42 Balloons is an uplifting musical inspired by the highly improbable true story of how Larry, and his partner Carol Van Deusen, convinced their friends and family to help Larry achieve his dream of flying.

Featuring an irresistible, 80s pop-inspired score, 42 Balloons questions how far you would go to make your dreams come true. Is the sky actually the limit, and what happens if it doesn’t all go to plan?

42 Balloons will star Charlie McCullagh (Bonnie & Clyde, Dr.Zhivago) and Evelyn Hoskins (Waitress, Gypsy, Spring Awakening) reprising their roles as Larry and Carol from the 2022 staged concert performances in the West End. Further casting will be announced later in the year.

42 Balloons has a book, music and lyrics by Jack Godfrey who said: “After five years of writing and a journey that has at times seemed as unlikely as Larry’s flight, it feels incredibly surreal that we now get to present the full production of 42 Balloons next year. I’m extremely proud of our team, I’m hugely grateful to everyone who has helped us to get to this point and I can’t wait to share this show with everyone.”

Ellie Coote will direct the production, with orchestrations & arrangements by Joe Beighton, choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, casting by Pearson Casting CDG, and music direction by Flynn Sturgeon.

Additional creative team and casting will be announced in due course.

For more information, please click here.