The Commitments Are Back
It is 35 years since The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle’s best-selling novel. The world's hardest working and most explosive soul band are set to return in an all new stage production, kicking off a huge nine month tour opening in Bromley in September. The show will then tour across the country before culminating in Brighton in July 2023.
This major UK and Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical will star Coronation Street legend Nigel Pivaro, who appeared in the hugely popular ITV soap between 1983 – 2012 as the lovable rogue Terry Duckworth. He will be swapping the cobbles for the stage and performing the role of ‘Da’ in this all-new production.
Nigel Pivaro says: “I am thrilled to be marking my return to the stage in this production of The Commitments. It's an iconic story that resonates across the years, about people who though distant from the music's origins find communion and expression in the Motown style. A musical genre which was borne out of oppression and which the characters embrace as their own. The Motown Sound is as vibrant today as it was when it first burst through in the Sixties.”
Roddy Doyle added: “I'm delighted that The Commitments are coming back in 2022 & 2023 and I'm particularly looking forward to seeing how Nigel Pivaro tackles the part of Jimmy Rabbitte's Da.”
This new tour for 2022/23 is directed by Andrew Linnie. Andrew made his West End debut in the original production in 2013, playing the role of Dean, the band’s sax player. He then went on to star in the lead role of Jimmy Rabitte in the 2016/2017 UK tour.
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Joining the cast as Deco is Olivier Award nominee Ian McIntosh.
Ian is no stranger to this role, having previously played Alternate Deco during the original West End run. Previous credits include Galileo in the UK tour of We Will Rock You, Sid Worley in An Officer and a Gentleman and he was Olivier nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Musical’ for his role as Barry in Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. His extensive musical career has also seen him perform in Hair and Can’t Buy Me Love.
Other casting includes James Killeen as Jimmy, Stuart Reid as Joey, Ciara Mackey as Imelda, Michael Mahony as Oustpan, Ryan Kelly as Billy, Conor Litten as Dean, Guy Freeman as Derek, Stephen O’Riain as James, Ronnie Yorke as Mickah, Eve Kitchingman as Natalie, and Sarah Gardiner as Bernie. Maryann Lynch, Alice Croft, James Deegan, Callum Martin, Joshua Barton, Ed Thorpe and Colm Gleeson make up the ensemble.
The Commitments tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working-class music fan, who transforms an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, which becomes the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced. Placing a classified advert in a music paper, Jimmy auditions a number of wannabes before finalising the members of his new band, which he names ‘The Commitments’.
Humour kicks in as the band get to know each other and their instruments, grappling with inter-group differences as they muddle their way through early rehearsals for the band’s first gig. Just as they improve and begin to get a name for themselves, they combust. The backing singers are more interested in the middle-aged horn playing legend, the singer has entered Eurovision, the drummer has walked out mid-gig and the saxophone player has dangerous leanings towards a jazz career.
THE COMMITMENTS - TOUR DATES
2022
24/09/2022 - 01/10/2022 Bromley: Churchill Theatre
03/10/2022 - 08/10/2022 Portsmouth: King’s Theatre
10/10/2022 - 15/10/2022 Wolverhampton: Grand Theatre
17/10/2022 - 22/10/2022 Sheffield: Lyceum Theatre
24/10/2022 - 29/10/2022 Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes Theatre
31/10/2022 - 05/11/2022 Hull: New Theatre
07/11/2022 - 12/11/2022 York: Grand Opera House
14/11/2022 - 19/11/2022 Bradford: Alhambra Theatre
21/11/2022 - 26/11/2022 Aberdeen: His Majesty’s Theatre
28/11/2022 - 03/12/2022 Edinburgh: Playhouse
05/12/2022 - 10/12/2022 Glasgow: Theatre Royal
2023
09/01/2023 - 14/01/2023 London: New Wimbledon Theatre
16/01/2023 - 21/01/2023 Truro: Hall for Cornwall
23/01/2023 - 28/01/2023 Plymouth: Theatre Royal
30/01/2023 - 04/02/2023 Aylesbury: Waterside Theatre
06/02/2023 - 18/02/2023 Dublin: Olympia Theatre
20/02/2023 - 25/02/2023 Belfast: Grand Opera House
27/02/2023 - 04/03/2023 Ipswich: Regent Theatre
06/03/2023 - 11/03/2023 Bournemouth: Pavilion Theatre
13/03/2023 - 18/03/2023 Dartford: Orchard Theatre
20/03/2023 - 25/03/2023 Bristol: Hippodrome
27/03/2023 - 01/04/2023 Southampton: Mayflower Theatre
03/04/2023 - 08/04/2023 Nottingham: Theatre Royal
10/04/2023 - 15/04/2023 Northampton: Royal & Derngate
17/04/2023 - 22/04/2023 Liverpool: Empire
24/04/2023 - 29/04/2023 Birmingham: Hippodrome
01/05/2023 - 06/05/2023 Blackpool: Opera House
08/05/2023 - 13/05/2023 Darlington: Hippodrome
15/05/2023 - 20/05/2023 Peterborough: New Theatre
22/05/2023 - 27/05/2023 Cardiff: Wales Millennium Centre
29/05/2023 - 03/06/2023 Llandudno: Venue Cymru
05/06/2023 - 10/06/2023 Manchester: Opera House
13/06/2023 - 17/06/2023 Reading: Hexagon
26/06/2023 - 01/07/2023 Newcastle: Theatre Royal
03/07/2023 - 08/07/2023 Brighton: Theatre Royal
Tickets available now
