Two very different musicals will receive their UK premieres at the new Waterloo East theatre this Christmas season.
Striking 12, which runs from 7 December to 2 January (press night 9 December) promises to be an alternative to traditional Christmas shows. A musical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Little Match Girl, it has a score that fuses jazz, rock and show tunes, composed by American outfit GrooveLily, who describe themselves as a ‘theatrical power trio’.
The show, which premiered off-Broadway in 2006, will be Anglicised for the Waterloo East run according to GrooveLily’s website, which lists lines that will be changed to the English vernacular and new references to Essex girls, Jimmy Carr and Trafalgar Square.
Striking 12 will be directed at Waterloo East theatre by Simon Greiff and features a cast including Simon Bailey, John Banister, Rebecca Bainbridge, Natasha Barnes and Roger Woods.
Running alongside Striking 12 will be another show of American origin, Pinkalicious The Musical (11 December to 2 January, press morning 13 December), based on the picture book by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann and featuring a score by John Gregor.
The show, aimed at children aged nine and younger, tells the story of Pinkalicious, a girl who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes, despite warnings from her parents. Soon she ends up at the doctor’s surgery with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe. It is a dream come true for this Pinkalicious, until her hue goes a little too far.
Speaking about the theatre’s first Christmas season, Gerald Armin, Artistic Director of Waterloo East theatre, said: “When Waterloo East theatre opened back in July, I promised an eclectic mix of entertainment and so I’m delighted that we have festive fare to suit theatre-lovers of all ages this Christmas. Striking 12 is the perfect antidote to too much sickly-sweet Christmas cheer and Pinkalicious is the exact opposite – a celebration of all things sticky and sweet – one for the under tens who love pink!”
The festive line-up also includes a series of Sunday evening cabaret shows from West End performers including Glyn Kerslake and Hadley Fraser.
Waterloo East theatre opened its doors earlier this year with a first season that included Dougal Irvine’s musical Departure Lounge and Jessica Martin’s solo show Sunset Bitch.
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