Blockbuster musical The King and I is heading back to Manchester fresh from an acclaimed run on London's West End. The show - branded "unmissable" by reviewers - will head on a major UK tour from January 2023 which will include a run at Manchester's Palace Theatre.
The production will open in Canterbury and then visit Wimbledon, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wycombe, Bristol, Dartford, Bradford, Southend, Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow. Casting will be announced later this year with further UK cities as well as a major international tour also to be announced.
The tour follows the cinema release of the live production of The King and I: From the London Palladium, which was the biggest live event in cinemas of 2018. More than 135,000 movie goers packed cinemas across the globe for the initial performance filmed on stage at the iconic London theatre.
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Acclaimed Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher will once again direct the production for its 2023 tour. He will be reunited with the celebrated creative team that brought the majestic production of The King and I to life at the London Palladium.
Critics heaped praise on Sher's Palladium production, Daily Express hailed it “London’s theatrical event of 2018” whilst The Daily Telegraph concurred proclaiming the show “looks and sounds ravishing”. Another five stars were awarded from the Sunday Express, and the Financial Times called it “simply spellbinding”.
Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children. It boasts one of the finest scores ever written including: Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You and Shall We Dance.
Meanwhile the touring production will feature a company of over 50 world-class performers, and full scale orchestra, harking back to a lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre.
Producer Howard Panter says: “We are delighted to take this majestic multi award-winning production of THE KING AND I on a major UK and international tour in 2023. The London Palladium season saw critical plaudits, Box Office records and standing ovations at every show - we were overwhelmed with the rapturous response.
"Coupled with the reaction to the Global cinema screenings of the film version - which was the biggest theatre event in cinemas of the year and number one at the Box Office - this really is musical theatre at its very best. So we are thrilled that we can now share this wondrous production with theatre lovers up and down the country next year.”
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