Sunset Boulevard comes to Plymouth

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical Sunset Boulevard starring Ria Jones as Norma Desmond and Danny Mac as Joe Gillis comes to Theatre Royal Plymouth from Monday 12 - Saturday 17 March.  It will be a homecoming for the production’s set, which was built in Plymouth by Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Production and Learning Centre, TR2.

One of the all-time great musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award®-winning (Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical) masterpiece Sunset Boulevard is a compelling story of romance and obsession, based on Billy Wilder’s legendary film, with Don Black and Christopher Hampton's wonderful book and lyrics. This much-loved score includes the title number Sunset Boulevard, With One Look, As If We Never Said Goodbye, The Greatest Star Of All and The Perfect Year and will be performed by a full orchestra.

In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess, Norma Desmond, lives in a fantasy world. Impoverished screenwriter, Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, stumbles into her reclusive world. Persuaded to work on Norma’s ‘masterpiece’, a film script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras, he is seduced by her and her luxurious life-style.  Joe becomes entrapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free with dramatic consequences.

Sunset Boulevard also features Adam Pearce as Max Von Mayerling, Molly Lynch as Betty Schaefer, Dougie Carter as Artie Green and Carl Sanderson as Cecil B DeMille. The rest of the company includes Bernadette Bangura, Matthew Barrow, Benjamin Chambers, Joanna Goodwin, Kristoffer Hellström, Iain


Mattley, James Meunier, Gemma Naylor, Fiona O’Carroll, Joanna O’Hare, Jessica Paul, Sam Peggs, Tom Vincent and Barney Wilkinson.

Last year, Ria Jones played the role of Norma Desmond at the London Coliseum when Glenn Close was indisposed, receiving rave reviews and standing ovations for her performance. Ria has recently starred as Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Her West End credits include Fantine in Les Misérables, Grizabella in Cats and Florence in Chess. Her touring credits include Alex in The Witches of Eastwick, Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques – The Musical, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes and The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Danny Mac captured the nation’s hearts and received overwhelming support during his incredible time on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing making it all the way to the final. He most recently starred as Gabey in On The Town at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. His other musical theatre credits include Wicked and Legally Blonde.

Adam Pearce’s many West End credits include Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, as well as the original casts of Love Never Dies at the Adelphi, The Light Princess at the National Theatre and Urinetown at the St James Theatre.  Adam has also appeared in Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sweeney Todd, all at the Adelphi.

Molly Lynch most recently appeared in English National Opera’s Carousel at the Coliseum, where she has also appeared in Sweeney Todd. Her other credits include Fiddler on the Roof at Grange Park Opera.

Dougie Carter recently played Jean-Michel in the national tour of La Cage Aux Folles. His West End theatre credits include Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre and Alice at St James Theatre.

Carl Sanderson’s many West End credits include Cats, The Phantom of the




Opera, Acorn Antiques – The Musical and Starlight Express. His other theatre credits include the national tours of My Fair Lady and Hairspray as well as Guys and Dolls, The Music Man and The Pajama Game all at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Tickets are priced between £25 - £49.50 and can be booked online at www.theatreroyal.com or by calling the Theatre Royal Plymouth Box Office on 01752 267222. Concessions are available.