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Home , Cardiff Docks, Suzanne Packer, Tiger Bay

PRESS RELEASE – 15 August 2017

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A MILLENNIUM CENTRE PRODUCTION

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CAPE TOWN OPERA THE MUSICAL Music by Daf James Book and Lyrics by Michael Williams Directed by Melly Still

• SUZANNE PACKER JOINS THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED JOHN OWEN JONES, NOEL SULLIVAN AND VICKI BEBB

• IN FROM 13 – 25 NOVEMBER Wales Millennium Centre in association with Cape Town Opera presents the world premiere of brand new musical TIGER BAY THE MUSICAL this autumn, bringing the atmosphere and stories of ’s vibrant past at the height of the coal trade, to life on stage at Wales Millennium Centre from 13 to 25 November with opening night for press on 15 November. actress Suzanne Packer has been cast to play Landlady, Marisha, joining the previously announced West End and Broadway actor John Owen Jones (Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera) as John Crichton-Stuart, Third Marquess of Bute, Hear’Say’s Noel Sullivan (BBC’s Ordinary Lives, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels UK Tour, We Will Rock You UK Tour) as Harbour Master, Séamus O’Rourke and recent graduate from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Vicki Bebb as valley girl, Rowena with Ruby Llewellyn and Louise Harvey, two young girls from Cardiff sharing the role of Ianto. Further casting still to be announced. Set to a rousing musical score, shop girls, coal miners, donkeymen, sailors, suffragettes, immigrants, and a lively gang of raggedy urchin Water Boys all believe that through hard work they too may prosper from King Coal. But when unionism imperils profits, the ambitious Harbour Master, the Bute Dock Company and the merchants of the threaten their livelihoods and dreams of a brighter future. High above them, in the Zodiac Room of , the Third Marquess of Bute, stares into his Crystal Gazing machine seeking answers from Shadowland to his own seemingly insurmountable troubles. A fictional story of revolution, reconciliation, courage and love, the award-winning creative team, including composer Daf James, writer Michael Williams and director Melly Still, have remained sympathetic to the sights and sounds of the bawdy public houses and alleyways of old , Cardiff, Britain's flamboyant multi-ethnic community at the dawn of the 20th Century.

Born and bred in Cardiff, Suzanne Packer said: “I was drawn to Tiger Bay the Musical as it tells a particular untold story in a colourful and entertaining way. Growing up in Cardiff I knew a little about its multicultural history; its only now through the vibrancy of the music and captivating storyline that I am learning more about it. It’s far better than any history lesson. This musical has such a great sense of some of the local history but it’s a universal story. Nobody gets away from heartbreak and there are themes throughout - class divide, loss, conflict - that everyone will connect with.” Noel Sullivan, whose grandfather worked on Cardiff’s docks, has said: It is time Cardiff and Wales were recognised on the world stage for its musical theatre talent. A production like Tiger Bay the Musical, conceived, created and produced in Wales, deserves all its hopes for a bright future. I’m very honoured to be on that journey.” -ENDS- For further information please contact:

The Corner Shop PR | 020 7831 7657 | Lewis Jenkins | Su-Ann Chow-Seegoolam

Cowshed | 02920 789 321 | Vicki Spencer-Francis | Stacey Oliver

LISTINGS

A Wales Millennium Centre Production In association with Cape Town Opera TIGER BAY – THE MUSICAL Music by Daf James Book and Lyrics by Michael Williams Directed by Melly Still Co-directed by Max Barton Designed by Anna Fleischle Lighting designs by Joshua Carr Sound designs by Christopher Shutt Musical supervision and direction by David Mahoney

Wales Millennium Centre Bute Place, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AL

First performance: Monday 13 November 2017 Final performance: Saturday 25 November 2017 Opening Night: Wednesday 15 November 2017

Evening performances on Monday to Saturday at 7.30pom Matinee performances on Saturdays and on Thursday 23 November at 2.30pm

Box office Website: www.wmc.org.uk Telephone: 029 2063 6464 Age recommendation 8+ (no under 2 yrs.) Prices from £7 - £39

Twitter/ Facebook / Instagram / website NOTES TO EDITORS For full cast and creative team biographies, see HERE

Wales Millennium Centre

• Wales Millennium Centre is a landmark arts venue and a cultural destination, opened by Her Majesty the Queen on November 28, 2004 • Its founding mission was to bring the best of the world to Wales and to showcase the best of Wales to the world • Built at a cost of £106m, its construction was funded by Welsh Assembly Government (£37m) and the National Lottery (£41m) through the Millennium Commission (£31m) and Arts Council of Wales (£10m) • The Centre is supported by the Arts Council of Wales through an annual public investment grant which is less than 20% of its annual turnover. For every £1 received from the public purse an additional £4.50 is generated by its commercial activities and fundraising. • Annually the Centre receives over 1.5 million visitors making it Wales’ number one visitor attraction. • The Centre sustains up to 1000 jobs and contributes over £60m annually to the economy of Wales • The Centre is internationally recognised for its striking architecture and was recently declared a National Treasure by the National Lottery following a public vote. • On its 7.5 acre site in Cardiff Bay, the Centre has a 1900 seat lyric theatre, named after its founding patron Sir Donald Gordon, designed for opera, large scale musicals, ballet and contemporary dance. • Other performance spaces include a 250 seat studio theatre, a dance house, 350 seat recital hall and a state of the art recording facility, BBC Hoddinott Hall. • Wales Millennium Centre is also home to eight other cultural organisations, including , BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Literature Wales, as well as inclusive arts organisation, Hijinx Theatre and the Touch Trust. • It has been described by Lord Lloyd Webber as the best theatre built in the world in the last 50 years. • For further information about the Centre please visit: www.wmc.org.uk • Wales Millennium Centre is a registered charity, number – 1060458.