Gossip: Harry Hill musical I Can't Sing! to open next year
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London Theatre Direct
Hot on the heels of today's long-dragged-out confirmation of this year's X Factor UK judging panel comes the X Factor musical. Tongue-in-cheek show I Can't Sing! has been written by comedian Harry Hill, who also co-wrote the show's lyrics with Steve Brown. Brown has written the music for the production. “We are thrilled to be bringing this all-singing, all-dancing, mickey-taking spectacular to the home of entertainment itself, the London Palladium” the two announced today.
The show will begin its previews at the London Palladium on February 27th 2014, with a press night to follow on March 26th. Although the piece, which is loosely based around Simon Cowell's TV juggernaut The X Factor, will be a satirical take on the phenomenon, the show obviously has his blessing as it will be produced as a joint venture by his own production company Syco and Stage Entertainment. Hill and Brown revealed that the show's title comes from one of their original songs.
Timing is everything in showbusiness, and the announcement of the new musical today has no doubt been timed to cash in on any positive reactions to today's news that original X Factor judge Sharon Osborne will be replacing Tulisa Constavalos in this autumn's run of the series. She will re-join her original partner-in-crime Louis Walsh, as well as returning 'head judge' Gary Barlow and last-year's surprise crowd-pleaser Nicole Scherzinger.
Those debating whether to buy I Can't Sing! tickets will be able to whet their appetite by checking out similarly themed The Golden Voice, which plays a limited season at the Arts Theatre from 12th June to 31st August. That show stars West End veteran Darren Day as Mike Chariot, a singer who betrayed his best friend and childhood sweetheart 20 years earlier in his desperation to win a tv talent show. He is now trying to help young singers break into the music scene but his past comes back to haunt him. Although staged on a smaller scale, the success of that show is likely to give an indication as to how hungry audiences will be for the Harry Hill production.
With high profile musicals like Viva Forever, Ghost and Loserville not managing to go the distance, I Can't Sing! will need to hit the ground running and get both critics and audiences onside from the off. The news confirms that A Chorus Line, which is currently playing at the venue, will certainly not be continuing in the same space past its current projected run. It is booking at the London Palladium until 18th January.
I Can’t Sing! will be directed by Sean Foley. Kate Prince is set to choreograph the show, with design by Es Devlin and lighting design by Jon Clark.
Book A Chorus Line tickets now