After more than six years on the West End stage, Jersey Boys star Ryan Molloy has swapped his jazzy red blazer for some rather less glamorous jogging bottoms. Panic not, however, the comfortable lounge wear signals not a broken heart or an extended period of sofa and daytime TV while waiting for an agent to call, but the excitement of a brand new role for the West End leading man and his return to the rehearsal room.
As you can see from Robert Day’s tantalising photos, Malloy and fellow Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be stars Jessie Wallace, Gary Kemp, Stefan Booth, Christopher Ryan and co are fully in the swing of restaging the classic musical about the 1950s East End complete with prop aprons, fedoras and ballroom dance shoes.
Developed by legendary director Joan Littlewood in 1959, the musical will have big shoes to fill when it begins its run on 8 May, following in the footsteps of the venue’s hit production of another iconic Littlewood piece, Oh What A Lovely War, which earned an Olivier Award nomination earlier this year.
While there is still a week to go until preview audiences will be the first to enter the world of gamblers, prostitutes and Teddy Boys brought to life in Loserville’s Elliot Davis’ new version, you can take a sneak peek at proceedings in Day’s vibrant photos above.