Former Pop Idol finalist and chart-topping singer Gareth Gates is to make his West End debut in gala show A Spoonful Of Stiles & Drewe.
Gates joins a cast of seasoned young West End stars for the one night only performance at Her Majesty’s theatre on Sunday 6 July, which celebrates 25 years of songwriting by composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Gates first shot to fame as a teenager when he reached the final of the first series of television singing contest Pop Idol. Despite losing the competition to Will Young, Gates went on to score a string of number one hits in the UK charts. More recently, Gates turned his attention from singing to ice-dancing, appearing on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
In A Spoonful Of Stiles & Drewe, Gates will headline an exclusive preview of material from Soho Cinders, the new musical by Stiles and Drewe. Speaking about making his West End debut, Gates said: “I’ve always been into the theatre and going to musicals, and often imagined myself being part of an amazing West End production, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get involved with A Spoonful Of Stiles & Drewe. As well as admiring George Stiles and Anthony Drewe for everything they’ve achieved in the industry, I can’t wait to get a taste of what life in the theatre’s all about.”
Gates joins a cast of young stars that includes Leanne Jones (Hairspray), Daniel Boys (Avenue Q), Oliver Tompsett (Wicked) and West End regulars Julie Atherton, Joanna Riding, Scarlett Strallen and Clive Rowe.
As well as an excerpt from Soho Cinders, the cast will perform material from Stiles and Drewe musicals Mary Poppins, Honk!, Peter Pan and Just So.
A Spoonful Of Stiles & Drewe is staged in support of Mercury Musical Developments.
CB