The critically acclaimed Irish production of Angela’s Ashes – The Musical will make its UK premiere this autumn, playing the Ashcroft Theatre at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls from Tuesday 24 September – Saturday 5 October.

Irish musical theatre legend Jacinta Whyte returns to the production to star as ‘Angela’, alongside Eoin Cannon as Frank and Marty Maguire as ‘Malachy’.

The full cast includes Norma Sheahan as ‘Mrs Finucane’, Amanda Minihan as ‘Grandma’, Bryan Burroughs as ‘Quasimodo’, Connor Gormley as ‘Malachy Jnr’, Fiona Browne as ‘Nora’, Michael Joseph as ‘Billy Heffernan’, David O’Meara as ‘Uncle Pat’, Mark O’Regan as ‘Mr Griffin’, Brigid Shine as ‘Theresa Carmody’ and Cáit Moloney as ensemble.

With music and lyrics by Adam Howell and book by Paul Hurt, this major musical adaptation of Frank McCourt’s best-selling memoir is directed by Thom Southerland and tells the remarkable story of the author’s childhood in Limerick and of the McCourt family’s inspirational rise from adversity to triumph.

As his parents struggle to provide for him and his brothers in 1940s Ireland, we follow young Frank’s escapades and experiences in a Dickensian landscape peopled by a drunken father, a helpless mother, pompous priests, bullying schoolmasters and money-lenders culminating in his defiant escape to a new life in America.

Described by The New York Times as a “stunning memoir” back in 1996, the publication of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes caused a literary sensation. The book climbed quickly to the top of that newspaper’s Bestseller lists and remained there for nearly three years, selling 4 million copies in hardback alone. Since then, sales of over 10 million copies worldwide have become a phenomenon continuing to attract a global readership.

Angela’s Ashes – The Musical is directed by Thom Southerland, with set and costume design by Francis O’Connor, lighting design by Sinead McKenna, movement direction by Ste Clough, and sound design by Jason Fallon. David Hayes is Musical Director and Mike Dixon is Musical Supervisor, with Original Arrangements & Orchestrations by Colm Ó Foghlú and Bass/Arrangements & Orchestrations by Joe Csibi. The musical is produced by Pat Moylan and Ciarán Walsh.

Reviews

“The beauty of Angela’s Ashes is its ability to steer you from laughing hysterically to holding back tears”
Belfast Telegraph

“…only the hardest of heartstrings could fail to be tugged”
Sunday Business Post

“Winning Performances…it radiates confidence”
The Irish Times

“Angela’s Ashes – The Musical is the best kind of theatre; it pokes, it prods, it excites, it delights, it uplifts; it touches the soul and the heart and the mind. I belly-laughed, I cried; I was transported”
Sunday Independent

Fairfield Halls
Park Lane, Croydon. CR9 1DG
020 3292 0001, Fairfield.co.uk