Niki Evans, who reached the semi-final of television talent contest X-Factor in 2007, will join the cast of hit London musical Blood Brothers in November.
Evans, a mother of two from Birmingham, narrowly missed out on making it to last year’s X-Factor showdown, being pipped by winner Leon Jackson, runner-up Rhydian Roberts and group Same Difference. She lasted longer than any other solo woman in the competition, catching the hearts of the public with performances of songs including Fields Of Gold and All That Jazz. She joins the London cast of Blood Brothers in the role of Mrs Johnstone on 3 November and will stay with the production for six months.
Prior to her debut in the capital, Evans will play Mrs Johnstone in the touring production of Blood Brothers during its two week stay at the Birmingham Hippodrome, starting 20 October. During this fortnight, Marti Webb, the current star of the touring show, will join the London cast.
Blood Brothers, which has been running at the Phoenix theatre since 1991, is Willy Russell’s tale of twin Liverpudlian boys. Separated as babies they lead very different lives, but fate brings them back together, with dramatic consequences.
When Evans debuts on the Phoenix’s stage, she will join a list of performers that includes Barbara Dickson, Kiki Dee, Petula Clark, Lyn Paul, Siobhan McCarthy and all four of the Nolan sisters, who have all played the role of Mrs Johnston in this long-running musical.
MA