Melanie Chisholm, formerly known the world over as Sporty Spice, is to make her theatrical debut this autumn when she takes on the role of Mrs Johnstone in long-running musical Blood Brothers.
Chisholm, who rose to global fame as one fifth of the Spice Girls, will take on the role, currently being played by former X-Factor contestant Niki Evans, on 26 October.
At the height of their powers during the late 1990s, The Spice Girls were an all-conquering girl band, spreading their own brand of girl power across the world with singles including Wannabe, Spice Up Your Life, Stop and Viva Forever. Selling over 60 million records worldwide, they are the best selling girl group of all time.
Chisholm has released four albums since the Spice Girls split up, received BRIT and ECHO Award nominations and, most recently, gave birth to her first child, Scarlet, in February.
When Chisholm steps onto the Phoenix theatre stage for the first time, she will join a list of female performers including Barbara Dickson, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul, Siobhan McCarthy and Linda, Bernie, Denise and Maureen Nolan, who have taken on the role of Mrs Johnstone.
Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, which opened in the West End in 1983, was revived in 1988 and has been running ever since, is the story of twin boys born in Liverpool. Separated soon after their birth, the boys lead very different lives; one privileged, the other poor. When they meet, not knowing the truth of their situation, it brings about tragic consequences.
MA