News

Confirmed: Brian Conley is new Edna

Posted by Jack on Tuesday 28th April 2009 at 12:22PM

As previously hinted by UK Tickets, Hairspray’s producers have now confirmed that Brian Conley will be taking over the role of Edne Turnblad after Michael Ball leaves the show on 25 July. As we predicted, Wicked’s Liam Tamne and newcomer Chloe Hart will complete the principal line-up Link Larkin and Tracy Turnblad, taking the roles over from Ben James Ellis and Leanne Jones.
Chloe Hart, Brian Conley and Liam Tamne
Hairspray fans are already excited about Brian Conley’s arrival. Comedian Conley was last seen on the West End stage in 2005 as Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Palladium, and he was nominated for an Olivier Award for the title role in Jolson in 1995. Last summer, he received critical acclaim for playing the lead role in Chichester Festival Theatre’s The Music Man. Conley himself is excited about his new role, saying, “I’ve done a lot in my career, but wearing a dress and heels every night and being married to Nigel Planer weren’t things I was expecting to be doing all at the same time, and in front of thousands of people!”
Liam Tamne joins the cast straight from his ensemble role in Wicked, and Chloe Hart makes her professional stage debut. Recent newcomers Nigel Planer and Verity Rushworth will stay in their roles as Wilbur and Penny. Brian, Chloe and Liam will be appearing in the multi-award winning Hairspray from Monday 27 July 2009 and you can get your tickets here.