Simon Burke will succeed Alexander Hanson in the role of Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music at the London Palladium from 24 September.
Burke has previously starred in the West End as Raoul in The Phantom Of The Opera and Carl-Magnus in A Little Night Music at the National, while his stage credits in his native Australia include Les Misérables, Chicago and Anything Goes. He has also worked on television as an actor and presenter, and appeared in several films.
In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1959 musical The Sound Of Music, Burke stars opposite Connie Fisher as Maria, the nun-turned-nanny who comes to look after the Von Trapp children in Austria prior to World War Two. Fisher, who won the role on the reality television programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, plays Maria for six performances a week, with fellow contestant Aoife Mulholland stepping into the role on Monday evenings and Wednesday matinees.
In replacing Hanson, Burke becomes the third person to play Captain Von Trapp in this production – Hanson was quickly drafted in prior to opening night after Simon Shepherd, who was originally cast in the role, withdrew from the show after just two preview performances.
The rest of the cast includes Margaret Preece as Mother Abbess, Ian Gelder as Max and Sophie Bould as Liesl, the oldest Von Trapp child.
The Sound Of Music is directed by Jeremy Sams, with choreography by Arlene Phillips. The production opened at the London Palladium on 15 November 2006 and is currently booking until 29 March 2008.
To book tickets for The Sound Of Music click here, or to book a theatre break click here.
CB