Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The ToyBoy Diares, coming in 2018.
The production, adapted from the best-selling memoirs by Wendy Salisbury, runs from Thursday 18 January to Saturday 10 February 2018 and is the first of five in-house musicals next year from the successful collaboration between Joseph Houston and William Whelton, co-founders of Hope Mill Theatre and producer Katy Lipson, of Aria Entertainment.
What is The ToyBoy Diaries at Hope Mill Theatre about?
The new musical, The ToyBoy Diaries, charts the occasionally heart-breaking yet humorous sagas of mid-life dating.
When twice-divorced Lily inadvertently finds herself under a much younger man, it opens the door to a wild new world of inappropriate relationships. From Tom the Tender to Sam the Submissive, via Paul the Policeman, Hat Trick Patrick and Matt the Monstrous (with Old Willy and Philandering Phil mixed in along the way) Lily finally finds Ben the Bountiful.
Who is starring in The ToyBoy Diaries at Hope Mill Theatre?
The lead role of Lily will be played by Johanne Murdock. Johanne’s recent credits include Brutus in Julius Caesar and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (Guildford Shakespeare Company), Anne Hathaway in The Other Shakespeare (Pitchfork Productions). Film and television credits include Chameleon and Holby City.
The production also features Olivier Award-nominee Nicola Blackman (Destiny Rides Again, Babe the Sheep Pig, Gilgamesh and Just to Get Married) as Lily’s best friend Penny. Matt Beveridge (The Frontier Trilogy, Titanic – Toronto and House of Therapy – Off Broadway) plays ToyBoy 1. Sharif Afifi (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, Wonderland – UK Tour) is ToyBoy 2. Alistair Higgins (Dreamboats and Petticoats – UK Tour, Sweeney Todd – Brighton, Charlotte’s Web) plays ToyBoy 3.
Who is the creative team behind the Manchester run of The ToyBoy Diaries?
The creative team behind The ToyBoy Diaries includes director Tania Azevdeo, whose recent credits include Tenderly (New Wimbledon Theatre) XY (Page to Stage – The Other Palace) Paper Hears (Edinburgh Fringe and International Tour), Hello Again – Hope Theatre.)
Musical direction comes from Andrew Griffiths, whilst Andy Collyer provides the music and lyrics. The book has been penned by Simon Warne.
Choreography is by Sam Spencer-Lane, design by Jason Denvir, lighting design by Ben M Rogers, and sound design by Calum Robinson.
Where and when is The ToyBoy Diaries performed in Manchester?
The ToyBoy Diaries is performed at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre from Thursday 18 January until Saturday 10 February 2018. Tickets are priced from £16.
