From Wimbledon’s Polka Theatre to the West End, how Twickenham’s Kirsty Hoiles went from ballet classes in Teddington to taking on the role of the fabulous Tanya in the smash hit Mama Mia!
Born at St Theresa’s Hospital in Wimbledon, Kirsty lived on Sherland Road in Twickenham as a child. She spent many happy hours playing in Marble Hill Park and enjoying walks along the river with her family past where the ferry crosses to Ham House. Her first introduction to music and dance came from a children’s music class in Richmond town centre and ballet classes in Teddington. She also has fond memories of performing at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, including a four-month Christmas season of Cinderella working for director Roman Stefanski, which was to become one of her fondest childhood memories. The production was really engaging for kids with lots of puppetry and colour and actually one of her favourite ever jobs. The seeds that would blossom into a successful professional career were definitely sown in her early life in South West London.
Now she is starring in the West End as Tanya, one of the Dynamos in Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre.
The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! celebrated its 20th anniversary in London’s West End at the Novello Theatre on Saturday 6 April. Now, in the musical’s 21st year, the producers are delighted to announce some major cast changes in the London production from Monday 10 June 2019. Mazz Murray, who has previously played Tanya in the London production, will be returning to the musical, but this time as Donna, and Kirsty Hoiles will join her as Tanya. The third Dynamo, Rosie, will be played by Ricky Butt.
Since premiering in London in 1999, the irresistible feelgood musical is capturing the hearts of millions around the globe. The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless pop masterpieces, has now been seen live on stage by 65 million people across the world, and turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again. To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen in 50 productions in 16 different languages grossing more than $4 billion at the box office.
In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.
MAMMA MIA! is also currently playing a German-language tour in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, a Dutch-language production in Utrecht and a Mandarin-language production in China. Upcoming productions include a UK and International Tour and productions in Korea, Berlin and Denmark.
MAMMA MIA! originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999, before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then to the Novello Theatre in 2012. The London production of MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 9 million people, played over 8,000 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes. MAMMA MIA! is currently booking to Saturday 7 March 2020.
With Judy Craymer – producer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008.
A second film, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time. With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! Catherine Johnson – writer, Phyllida Lloyd – director, Anthony Van Laast – choreographer. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch. Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus are producing MAMMA MIA! for Littlestar in association with Universal.
The show is currently booking until 19 September 2020.
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Matthew Bourne https://darlingmagazine.co.uk/?s=matthew+bourne
