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Love Will Be in the Air Again This Christmas – Strictly Ballroom the Musical Headed to the United Kingdom in Time For Christmas

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During 2014 and 2015, Strictly Ballroom the Musical had its premiere tour across Australia – performing to audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. While this might be disappointing news to those from other Australian states hoping for their chance to see this show locally, it has been confirmed that the show will be headed to the United Kingdom, to be performed at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds from 30 November 2016 until 21 January 2017.

This production will be directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, and will be based on the original Australian musical created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Terry Johnson will also be joining the creative team to adapt the original book. It will be interesting to see how McOnie will interpret this musical for audiences in the United Kingdom.

Based on the original feature film, Strictly Ballroom the Musical is the story of a championship ballroom dancer who defies all the rules of follow his heart. It features some familiar songs including “Love is in the Air” and “Time After Time”, which have been incorporated into the storyline rather than serving as background music, as well as new songs created by artists including Sia, David Foster and Eddie Perfect.

This production of Strictly Ballroom the Musical is a co-production by Global Creatures and West Yorkshire Playhouse. A lot of people involved with this production had something to say about this announcement (sourced from media release):

Baz Luhrmann | Creator of Strictly Ballroom the Musical

One of the great joys for us was to take a story that began as a play when I was at drama school and return to our homeland in Australia to birth the musical stage version with all our original collaborators. Now that it’s been born, Strictly Ballroom must go on. It’s wonderful that one of the new bright-lights of the English theatre, who himself was fan of the film at a young age, is taking the show to realize it in a new way, for new audiences, and oversee its continued growth.

From a small student play to my first motion picture and now a theatrical stage musical, Strictly Ballroom has been an almost thirty year journey for me. I have often marvelled at how this story, born so long ago, has been in my life for so many years and has managed to touch, move, entertain and uplift so many different people from so many different backgrounds.

I think the simple truth is that, despite all the sequins, outrageous hairdos and classic Hollywood musical plotting, the simple message that ‘there isn’t only one way to cha cha cha’ and that ‘within us all we have the true potential to dance through life with our own steps’, is something that appeals to all of us. The message that life doesn’t have to be strictly ballroom is something I hope our audiences will carry with them as they dance down the aisles.

Drew McOnie | Director and Choreographer of Strictly Ballroom the Musical’s UK Production

The film Strictly Ballroom has had such a huge impact on me. It inspired me as an 8- year-old dancer to follow my choreographic instinct and gave me the desire to explore the many different ways of communicating ideas through dance. The opportunity to bring that passion and personal connection to the next stage of Strictly Ballroom’s journey means the world to me; and having Baz Luhrmann’s support is a dream come true.

Carmen Pavlovic | CEO of Global Creatures

Baz Lurhmann’s Strictly Ballroom is such an important touchstone for so many of us and creating the new musical with Baz and Catherine Martin in Sydney was a joy. Now I am so excited that STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL will debut in England in partnership with the creative might of West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds and helmed by Drew McOnie. Baz and I were thrilled to discover the dazzling Drew McOnie who is a brilliant talent and I believe the perfect person to continue building on Baz and Catherine’s vision and remarkable achievement.

James Brining | Artistic Director of West Yorkshire Playhouse

We’re delighted to be collaborating with international producers Global Creatures to create the next incarnation of STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL. I have loved the film since I first saw it and I’m thrilled that we will be working with a world class creative team here in Leeds and creating the first UK staging of this musical for our 2016 Christmas show.

Tickets to see Strictly Ballroom the Musical can now be purchased via the West Yorkshire Playhouse website, with tickets priced from £13.50-£40.00.

Sam
Sam
Founder of The Otaku's Study. I have been exploring this labyrinth of fandom these last fifteen years, and still nowhere close to the exit yet. Probably searching for a long time to come.

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