Take a look at Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Local Hero, the new musical adaptation of Bill Forsyth's film featuring a book by David Greig and new songs by Mark Knopfler. Performances began October 8 in the Minerva Theatre and will continue through November 19.
Set in 1983, hotshot Texan oil executive Mac MacIntyre goes to a tiny Scottish fishing village of Ferness with $30 million to buy up the village for a refinery. Locals aren't averse to cashing in despite the village's incredible views of the bay, and community leader Gordon, the local hotelier-lawyer-accountant-ceilidh organizer, takes on negotiating on behalf of Ferness' inhabitants. But they've all forgotten one very important person, and soon Mac realizes that not everything can be bought.
The cast is led by Tony winner Gabriel Ebert (Matilda The Musical, Pass Over) in his U.K. stage debut, Lillie Flynn (Sunny Afternoon, Wicked), Paul Higgins (Children of the Sun, Caledonia), Olivier nominee Hilton McRae (End of the Rainbow, 1984), and Jay Villiers (Quiz, Outlander). Also starring are Rachael Kendall Brown, Rodney Earl Clarke, Ali Craig, Julie Cullen, Liz Ewing, Murray Fraser, Craig Hunter, Joshua Manning, Jackie Morrison, and Betty Valencia.
Director Daniel Evans leads the creative team which includes designer Frankie Bradshaw, lighting designers Paule Constable and Ryan Day, sound designer Paul Arditti, musical director Richard John, movement director Sasha Milavic Davies, video designer Ash J Woodward, music producer Guy Fletcher, orchestrator and arranger Dave Milligan, voice and dialect coach Charmian Hoare, and wigs, hair, and make-up by Rebecca Rungen. Charlotte Sutton serves as casting director with U.S. casting by Jim Carnahan.
The team is rounded out by associate director Francesca Murray-Fuentes, associate musical director Alan Berry, production manager Ben Arkell, costume supervisors Lisa Aitken and Laura Rushton, props supervisor Lizzie Frankl, company stage manager Lou Bann, deputy stage manager Rob Le Maistre, and assistant stage manager Rose Dayan.
For tickets and more information, visit CFT.org.uk.
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