A West End fixture since opening in Jersey Boys in 2008, Ryan Molloy will join the cast of Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be when it runs at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in May.
Molloy, who originated the role of Frankie Valli in the West End production of Jersey Boys but will leave the show when it plays its final performance at the Prince Edward Theatre on 9 March, joins a cast that includes former EastEnder Jessie Wallace and Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp.
Former Hollyoaks and The Bill star Stefan Booth and ex-Young One Christopher Ryan have also joined the cast of the musical set at the end of the 1950s in an East End world populated by gamblers, spivs, prostitutes and Teddy boys.
Other cast members include The Light Princess’ Vivian Carter, Joanna Woodward, who appeared in the hit Menier Chocolate Factory production of Merrily We Roll Along, and Gary Watson, who was part of the cast of A Chorus Line that recently won the Best Ensemble prize at the Whatsonstage Awards.
Mark Arden, Stevie Hutchinson, John Olohan, Gary Watson, Sarah Middleton, Ruth Alfie Adams, Will Barton and Suzie Chard complete the cast.
Originally created in 1959 by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop Company, this new version of Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be has been created by Loserville’s Elliot Davis. The writer and composer has adapted Frank Norman’s script and added new song’s by Lionel Bart to those originally included in the show’s Bart-written score.
Speaking about the production, Davis said: “Our production hopes to make Fings find its rightful place in the catalogue of great British musicals. Ultimately the goal is to take this production on a National UK tour for the benefit of audiences across the whole of the UK!”
The production, directed by Terry Johnson, runs at Theatre Royal Stratford East from 8 May to 8 June. It follows the current revival of another famous Littlewood piece, Oh What A Lovely War, which completes its run at the venue on 15 March.