Stars of stage and screen Faye Brookes and Brenda Edwards are gearing up for some razzle dazzle as they take to the Mayflower Theatre stage in Chicago later this month.
Coronation Street star Faye, best known for her award-winning turn as Kate Connor in the beloved soap, returns to her celebrated role of Roxie Hart, while Brenda Edwards, of X Factor, Loose Women and Hairspray fame, is back as Mama Morton.
Set amidst the decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.
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READ MORE:Faye said: "I’m so unbelievably grateful to be returning to play the role Roxie Hart. I adore her. Always have. Always will. She’s such an interesting character that I discover something new about her every day.
"There’s a reason why it’s the longest running American musical, everyone can relate to the story in some way. To me it’s the perfect musical, there’s something for everyone."
Brenda explains why she's glad to be back: "For me it’s the songs, the razzle dazzle of it all, and the character – she’s an amazing boss lady!
"The music and the choreography go hand in hand, it’s a slick and smooth production, that’s timeless. It’ll never be outdated, it’s a classic. It’s also loosely based on real events that happened in the 1920s - it’s amazing to see that transformed into this musical in this way."
Faye Brookes previously played Roxie Hart to acclaim in the 2021 UK and Ireland tour of the show. Her other theatre credits include Fran in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical.
Brenda Edwards gained public acclaim as a semi-finalist on The X Factor before turning her attention to the stage, making her West End debut as Mama Morton in Chicago, a role she reprised during the show's last tour. Her other theatre credits include Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray.
Chicago runs from November 19 to 23. Tickets from mayflower.org.uk
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