Cast line-up of the new show ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’
Rehearsals have started for the new UK tour of ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’ by Jim Cartwright which stops off in Horsham on Monday 28th March to Saturday 2nd April.
Drama desk award nominee and YouTuber Christina Bianco (Funny Girl, Theatre Marigny Paris) stars as the title role Little Voice, alongside Shobna Gulati (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Coronation Street, Dinnerladies) as Mari Hoff.
Directed by Bronagh Lagan (Cruise, West End), this bittersweet comedy features music from divas including Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand, Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Bassey.
Other cast includes Ian Kelsey (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors) as Ray Say, Akshay Gulati (East is East; The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Bolton Octagon) as Billy, William Ilkley (War Horse, UK/ International Tour, The Full Monty, UK Tour) as Mr Boo.
The cast line-up continues with Fiona Mulvaney (The Ferryman, West End; Silent Witness, BBC) as Sadie, and James Robert Moore (All That, Lion and Unicorn; Fanny & Stella, Above the Stag) as Phone Man.
The company is completed by Anna Hale (London Road, Cuba Pictures/BBC Films) as understudy LV and Sadie.
Christina Bianco will perform ballads by artists such as Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey and Cilla Black live on stage, capturing their styles through her impressions.
‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’ play overview, awards and creatives
Meet Little Voice and Mari Hoff. A mother and daughter central to the heart of this Northern fairy-tale, but as far apart in character as can be. Left to her own ‘devices, Little Voice starts to embody the famous divas she plays on repeat, and becomes an overnight sensation.
With humour, heart and timeless classics performed live on stage, ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’ explores the highs and the lows of small-town dreams, family rivalry and finding your voice in a noisy world.
Cartwright’s play won the Olivier award and Evening Standard award for Best Comedy when it premiered at the National Theatre in 1992 in a production directed by Sam Mendes which transferred to the Aldwych Theatre, starring Jane Horrocks and Alison Steadman.
Horrocks later reprised the role of LV in a film adaptation also starring Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor and Jim Broadbent.
With Musical Director and Associate Sound Designer Eamonn O’Dwyer, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice will feature set and costume design by Sara Perks, casting by Jane Deitch, lighting design by Nic Farman, Andrew Johnson as Sound Designer and Chris Matanlé as General Manager.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is co-produced by Bonnie Comley and Stewart F Lane, Neil Gooding Productions and Tiny Giant Productions.
Locations of touring venues
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice will open at MAST Mayflower Studios in Southampton on 23rd March 2022 and tour to The Capitol Horsham on the 28th of March 2022.
It will also show at:
- Exeter Northcott
- Malvern Theatres
- Theatre Clwyd
- Theatre Royal Brighton
- Derby Theatre
- Salisbury Playhouse
- Liverpool Playhouse
- Theatre Royal Wakefield
- Crewe Lyceum Theatre
- The Lowry Salford
- Blackpool Grand
- Mercury Theatre Colchester
- Richmond Theatre
- York Theatre Royal
- Everyman Theatre Cheltenham
Website: www.littlevoiceuk.com
Twitter: @LittleVoiceTour
Instagram: @littlevoiceuk
Age guidance: 12+ adult themes and strong language
More information can be found at saraperkstheatredesign.co.uk
