The full cast for the first major UK national tour of Helen Forrester’s Twopence To Cross The Mersey has been announced.
Twopence To Cross The Mersey UK Premiere Tour 2022 opens this September in Wirral, a place which features heavily in Helen’s million-selling books. The hit stage drama has been revamped and updated as it gears up to visit 15 venues nationwide during autumn 2022.
The nine-strong cast, playing over 40 characters, has been announced and includes five cast members who have appeared in its sister show, By The Waters Of Liverpool. The new touring production of Twopence To Cross The Mersey is produced by Rob Fennah and Lynn McDermott for Pulse Records Limited in association with Bill Elms and directed by Gareth Tudor Price.
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The 2022 cast includes Mark Moraghan, Daniel Taylor, Parry Glasspool, Jenny Murphy, Lynn Francis, Lynne Fitzgerald, Robert Hudson, Roy Carruthers, and Chloe McDonald.
Mark Moraghan will play John Forrester (Helen’s father). Mark previously played ‘Father’ in the 2007 and 2009 adaptations of Twopence To Cross The Mersey, and reprised the role in the follow-up stage drama of Helen’s book By The Waters Of Liverpool in 2018 and 2020. Daniel Taylor plays Mr Ferris and is also part of the Ensemble. He is an award-winning actor, producer and director, and was most recently seen on stage in Blood Brothers.
Parry Glasspool will play Helen’s brother Alan, while Jenny Murphy was awarded the role of Helen after an open call for auditions. Lynn Francis, who plays Helen’s mother, Celia Forrester, Roy Carruthers (Ensemble), and Chloe McDonald (Ensemble) are all returning, having appeared in previous stage productions of Helen Forrester books presented by Pulse Records Limited.
Lynne Fitzgerald plays Mrs Foster (ensemble) and Robert Hudson (ensemble) complete the cast. Both are appearing for the first time in a Helen Forrester adaptation.
Playwright and producer Rob Fennah said: “Twopence To Cross The Mersey is such a poignant true story and, although based in the 1930’s, it tackles many scenarios people can still relate to today. It’s the main reason why it has remained so popular across the UK and around the world. Now we have our cast in place we can actually start believing we are taking the production on its first major tour after such a challenging few years for live theatre and entertainment.
“Helen Forrester was an incredible woman, and we are proud to continue to be custodians of her fascinating stories. Some years ago Helen and I grew to be good friends, and we shared many letters and lengthy telephone conversations about her life story. There were some real gems in amongst those conversations which I have now written into this new adaptation – fascinating memories of the late author that didn’t find their way into her books.”
The tour opens on Tuesday, September 6 at the New Brighton Floral Pavilion in Wirral and will continue on to a further 14 venues in Rhyl, Stockport, Crewe, St Helens, Blackpool, Warrington, Darlington, Halifax, Croydon, Coventry, Lichfield, Bolton, Southport and Liverpool. For tour dates and to book tickets, click here.
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