⭐ ANNA-JANE CASEY, ANNETTE MCLAUGHLIN, MARK DUGDALE, ALASDAIR HARVEY, JACQUELINE DANKWORTH & ALLISON HARDING TO STAR IN NORTHERN IRELAND OPERA REVIVAL OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S FOLLIES ⭐
Northern Ireland Opera has revealed intial casting for their revival of one of the most spectacular musical masterpieces of all time, FOLLIES.
Starring in the iconic roles of former roommates and showgirls reuniting after thirty years, Sally Plummer and Phyllis Stone, are renowned musical theatre and West-End stars Anna-Jane Casey and Annette McLaughlin.
Best friends Buddy Palmer and Benjamin Stone are played by Belfast’s own Mark Dugdale and much sought-after West-End star Alasdair Harvey respectively.
Music theatre royalty and one of the UK’s finest jazz vocalists Jacqueline Dankworth MBE returns to the stage in her first Sondheim musical in thirty years to play the role of Carlotta Campion, a character who arguably sings one of the show’s most recognised musical standards “I’m Still Here”.
West End performer and TV actress Allison Harding plays Hattie Walker, the tough-talking, no-nonsense showgirl who sings the legendary showstopping number “Broadway Baby”.
Further casting to be announced shortly.
This epic production directed by the renowned national opera company’s artistic director Cameron Menzies, will be the first time the show has ever been staged professionally in Northern Ireland at Belfast’s Grand Opera House and marks eight long years since its last UK revival.
Set in New York in 1971, former showgirls of the famous Weismann’s Follies’ return with their partners to their beloved decaying Broadway theatre for one final reunion before it is demolished and turned into a carpark. Time may have moved on, but inside the theatre old connections stir, song and dance routines, laughs and loves are well remembered, rivalries flare and ghosts of the past are awoken. By the time they all leave their world’s will have shifted: will anything be the same again?
The Northern Ireland Opera revival of FOLLIES will be directed by Cameron Menzies, featuring musical direction by Greg Arrowsmith, choreography by Jennifer Rooney, set design by Niall McKeever, costume design associate Gillian Lennox, hair & makeup design by Nuala Campbell, orchestra manager Margaret Barry and repetiteur Fraser Hickland.
FOLLIES has music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with a book by James Goldman. Produced originally on Broadway by Harold Prince. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. By special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh. Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.
FOLLIES will play The Grand Opera House, Belfast, on 13th, 16th, 19th, 20th September 2025, with tickets on sale now.
What a fantastic cast, led by the incredible Anna-Jane Casey… I think I may have to book a trip to Belfast! ! !
Thoughts? X x x
Tickets & more info – https://niopera.com/performances/follies/
