Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar is to star in a new production of Cole Porter's classic musical Kiss Me, Kate alongside Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block who is to make her West End debut in the production which will open at the Barbican on June 4th.
Block, who is perhaps best known for her work on Broadway will play Lilli Vanessi/Katharine with Dunbar making his musical theatre debut in the role of Fred Graham/Petruchio. The production will be directed by Bartlett Sher, whose new West End production of The King and I will open in the West End later this month at the Dominion Theatre. Anthony Van Laast choreographs the musical.
This production will feature over 50 members in the company, including a full-scale orchestra, and includes classic songs including "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," "Another Op’nin’, Another Show," and "Tom, Dick or Harry."
Speaking about the appointment, Adrian Dunbar commented: “I’m so delighted to be returning to the stage this summer to my spiritual home at the Barbican - where I started my career at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama - especially in this Cole Porter classic with the wonderful creative team including Bart Sher and Stephanie J. Block. Summer 2024 just got a lot brighter!”
Block also commented about the forthcoming show stating: "Look... when asked to bring a Cole Porter classic to the Barbican stage under the care and vision of Bart Sher, one must say yes! There are so many 'firsts' to this opportunity, and at this stage of my career, 'firsts' are not the norm. How wonderfully scary and challenging and thrilling. I cannot wait to dive into this timeless classic and put a fresh stamp on it alongside the incredible Adrian Dunbar. Mark my words, this Kiss Me, Kate will most definitely not be just 'another openin,' another show."
Kiss Me, Kate is a show within a show, that follows a theatre company in its attempt to stage a production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. A battle of the sexes takes centre stage with bickering former spouses finding that their off-stage antics rival the drama happening on stage. Audiences can expect cases of mistaken identity, gangsters, confused love, and spectacular tap dance routines.
Kiss Me Kate tickets will be available soon on Theatretickets-London.co.uk
The Barbican Theatre is a medium size venue situated on Silk Street in the City of London and has a capacity of 1170 seats.
Seats throughout the auditorium have good legroom and offer excellent views of the action from comfortable seats with only a few minor overhang restrictions being found on all levels.
Premium seats in the theatre can be found in the centre section of the Stalls and Circle and offer a perfect view of the stage with rows F-J considered to be an excellent vantage point to view the action, but seats further forward are preferred if you want a more intimate experience.
For savvy patrons looking for last-minute bargains or on a budget, the least expensive seats can be found in the Gallery. Please be advised that these seats are quite high up though which can feel distant from the stage. Seats at the ends of rows in each section can also offer value and are generally cheaper, due to having side-angled views of the stage.