London transfer for CFT's Half A Sixpence

Chichester Festival Theatre summer hit Half A Sixpence will transfer to London's Noël Coward Theatre from October 29.
The Company & Charlie Stemp (Arthur Kipps) in CFT's HALF A SIXPENCEThe Company & Charlie Stemp (Arthur Kipps) in CFT's HALF A SIXPENCE
The Company & Charlie Stemp (Arthur Kipps) in CFT's HALF A SIXPENCE

CFT spokeswoman Lucinda Morrison said: “The Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre co-production, which has had audiences and critics in raptures at Chichester this summer, will become the third Festival 2016 production to play in the West End this autumn.

“The entire Chichester cast will transfer with the show, led by newcomers Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps and Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann Pornick – alongside Ian Bartholomew as Chitterlow and Emma Williams as Helen Walsingham.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jonathan Church, outgoing artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre, said: “Half A Sixpence has taken Chichester by storm. We didn’t quite know what to expect from this relatively-rarely revived British musical; but from the moment this incredible re-worked version burst onto the stage audiences went wild, with standing ovations every night.”

The new stage version of Half A Sixpence, the musical adaptation of H G Wells’s semi- autobiographical novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul, is a completely-fresh adaptation which reunites book-writer Julian Fellowes (Oscar-winning screenwriter and creator of Downton Abbey) with George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the musical team that co-creator Cameron Mackintosh first put together to create the hit stage adaptation of Mary Poppins with Disney. The score is inspired by and features several of composer David Heneker’s songs from the original production, including Flash Bang Wallop, Money To Burn and Half A Sixpence.

The Festival Theatre run of Half A Sixpence ends this Saturday, September 3. Tickets for the Noël Coward Theatre go on sale on Thursday, September 1 at 10.am, with performances booking from October 29 until February 11 2017.

Don't miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you'll be amongst the first to know what's going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on 'sign in' (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don't miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: