Jane Horrocks is to return to the Young Vic later this year to star in the revival of Irving Berlin’s musical Annie Get Your Gun, the show’s first London production for 17 years.
She is to be joined in the Richard Jones-directed production, in which she will play the sharp-shooting Annie Oakley, by Julian Ovenden, who is to play rival and lover Frank Butler. The show’s cast also includes Buffy Davis, John Marquez, Liza Sadovy and Eric MacLennan.
The piece, which runs from 3 October to 2 January (press night 16 October), reunites Horrocks with director Jones, the pair having previously collaborated on the 2008 Young Vic production of Brecht’s The Good Soul Of Szechuan.
“I had such a brilliant time at the Young Vic working with Richard Jones,” Horrocks commented. “I am thrilled to be returning in one of the finest female roles in musical theatre – and looking forward to singing all those fabulous songs.”
“Those fabulous songs” include There’s No Business Like Show Business, I Got Lost In His Arms and Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better.
Horrocks is currently appearing in Wallace Shawn’s Aunt Dan And Lemon at the Royal Court and was seen in the West End production of Absurd Person Singular in 2007. She is probably best known for her performance in Little Voice, which was seen on both stage and screen, and as ditsy assistant Bubble in Absolutely Fabulous.
Co-star Ovenden is a West End musical regular whose credits include Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel (both Donmar Warehouse) and, most recently, Marguerite (Theatre Royal Haymarket).
Also announced for the Young Vic autumn/winter season are a workshop production of Uncle Vanya, directed by Young Vic Associate Director Joe Hill-Gibbins, and The Forest, a dance performance by Young Vic Associate Company Fevered Sleep aimed at 5-7 year olds.
MA