The cast for the World Premiere of Stephen Ward, directed by Richard Eyre, comprises Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward, Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies, Anthony Calf as Lord Astor, Daniel Flynn as John Profumo, Joanna Riding as Valerie Hobson, Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray, Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon and Wayne Robinson as Johnny Edgecomp.  Other cast members are Martin Callaghan, Kate Coyston, Jason Denton, Julian Forsyth, Amy Griffiths, Paul Kemble, Emma Kate Nelson, Carl Sanderson, Emily Squibb, John Stacey, Helen Ternent and Tim Walton.

 

Opening in the West End later this year, Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black, previews at the Aldwych Theatre from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013.  The production is currently booking to 1 March 2014.  Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear.  Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group.   

 

1963.  The scandal that shocked society.   Stephen Ward charts the rise and fall from grace of the society osteopath. Friend to film stars, spies, models, government ministers and aristocrats, his rise and ultimate disgrace coincided with the increasingly permissive lifestyle of London's elite in the early 1960's. The musical centres on Ward's involvement with the young and beautiful Christine Keeler and their chance meeting in a West End night club which led to one of the biggest political scandals and trials of the 20th century.

 

Alexander Hanson (Stephen Ward) was last on stage as Pilate in the recent UK Arena Tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar.  Previously he appeared as Fredrik Egerman in A Little Night Music, which after its run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, transferred to the West End and then to Broadway.  In 2009 Hanson was Olivier Award nominated for his performance as Otto in Marguerite at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.  His many other music theatre credits include Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the London Palladium, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, Candide for the National Theatre and Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre.  His other theatre credits include Copenhagen and The Merchant of Venice for the National Theatre, Talking to Terrorists for the Royal Court and Hay Fever and Translations for Chichester Festival Theatre.  His film and television credits include Party Animals, The Last Detective II, Rosemary and Thyme and Heartbeat. 

 

Charlotte Spencer (Christine Keeler) was directed by Richard Eyre as Jane Banks in the original West End production of Mary Poppins.  Previously she was seen on stage in Olivier! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.   Most recently she has been seen on screen in Les Miserables.  Her other screen credits include Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows and Wild Bill directed by Dexter Fletcher.  Her television credits include Mr Selfridge, Genie in the House, Hotel Babylon and Five Days.  Spencer voiced the title role in the animation Angelina Ballerina. 

 

Charlotte Blackledge (Mandy Rice Davies) who trained at Central School of Speech and Drama is making her professional stage debut in Stephen Ward.   

 

Anthony Calf (Lord Astor) can currently be seen playing Victor Prynne in Jonathan Kent’s production of Private Lives at the Gielgud Theatre. His other theatre credits include My Fair Lady for Sheffield Theatres, Death and the Maiden at the Harold Pinter Theatre, The Deep Blue Sea for Chichester Festival Theatre, Les Parents Terribles for the Donmar Warehouse, as well as The White Guard, The Power of Yes, Gethsemane, Betrayal, The False Servant and The Madness of George III all for the National Theatre and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Neverland and My Night with Reg all for the Royal Court. On television his credits include Restless and Upstairs Downstairs and regular roles in New Tricks and Holby City. His film credits include Straightheads, Anna Karenina and The Madness of King George.

 

Daniel Flynn’s (John Profumo) more recent theatre credits include Bracken Moor for the Tricycle Theatre, 55 Days for the Hampstead Theatre, Richard II and Translations for the Donmar Warehouse, Emperor and Galilean andThe White Guard for the National Theatre, Twelfth Night, Cymbeline and Camelot for Regents Park Open Air Theatre, The Weir and I Am Yours for the Royal Court and A Small Family Business for the Chichester Festival Theatre.  Amongst his television credits are Room at the Top, Vera, The Bill, Murder in Mind, The Peter Principle, After Life, Murder Room and The Choir.

 

Joanna Riding (Valerie Hobson) was recently directed by Richard Eyre in The Pajama Game for the Chichester Festival Theatre. Her other theatre credits include Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Lend Me A Tenor  at the Gielgud Theatre, Fear and Misery for the Royal Court, An Ideal Husband for the Royal Exchange Theatre and The Witches of Eastwick and My Fair Lady both at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.  For the National Theatre her credits include Oh, What a Lovely War!, Guys and Dolls, A Little Night Music and Carousel.  Riding has twice won the Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical - once for Carousel and then again for My Fair Lady.   Her television work includes Stella, Holby City, Heartbeat and Where the Heart Is.