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Backbeat West End Cast Announced
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Casting has been announced for the West End transfer of Backbeat – the musical adaptation of Iain Softley’s BAFTA-nominated 1994 film which will open at the Duke of York’s Theatre on 10th October 2011, following previews from 24th September 2011. Nick Blood (pictured left), whose London stage credits include Women Beware Women at the National Theatre, will play ‘Stuart Sutcliffe’ - The Beatles original bass player and protagonist in this compelling tale about The Fab Four’s formative years. |
We Can Work it OutSet in Hamburg, West Germany in the early 1960s, Backbeat tells the story of Stuart Sutcliffe - a keen artist and The Beatles original bass player - and his relationship with best friend John Lennon and the German beatnik photographer Astrid Kirchherr. After the band travel from Liverpool to hone their sound in the clubs of Hamburg, Sutcliffe struggles with his loyalties - torn between The Beatles and a life in music, and his growing feelings for Astrid and his artwork. Sutcliffe eventually left the band, handing over his guitar to Paul McCartney. He tragically died soon afterwards of a brain haemorrhage, aged just 21-years-old. From Me to You |
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Backbeat had its world premiere at Glasgow’s Citizen’s Theatre in 2010 and features a number of original cast members in the West End production. Andrew Knott (Pictured left in The History Boys) will reprise the role of ‘John Lennon’, Daniel Healy (Daddy’s Girl, Taggart) will again take the role of ‘Paul McCartney’ and William Payne (The Tudors) will play ‘George Harrison’. They will be joined by Oliver Bennett (Avocado, Abigail’s Party) as ‘Pete Best’ and Ruta Gedmintas (Spooks) as ‘Astrid Kirchherr’. |
| Backbeat is co-written written by Iain Softley and Stephen Jeffreys, with direction by David Leveaux and musical direction by Paul Stacey. The show features several rock n’ roll songs that were covered by The Beatles, including Twist and Shout, Long Tall Sally and Please Mr Postman. | |
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