The Spongebob Musical announces cast including Gareth Gates, Divina de Campo, Lewis Cornay

Producers of the forthcoming UK production of The Spongebob Musical have revealed casting for the show.

The show kicks off a UK tour at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 5 April 2023, and visits the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London’s Southbank Centre for 5 weeks, from 26 July to 26 August 2023.

Gareth Gates is set to star as Squidward in the show at selected venues – although not the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Also in the cast is Divina de Campo as Sheldon J. Plankton, Lewis Cornay as SpongeBob, Irfan Damani as Patrick and Chrissie Bhima as Sandy.

They are joined by Richard J Hunt as Mr Krabs, Sarah Freer as Pearl, Eloise Davies as Mrs Puff,Hannah Lowther as Karen, Rebecca Lisewski as Mayor, plus Sam Beveridge Jeremiah Olaleye, Eleanor Turiansky, Rhys Batten and Reece Kerridge.

The casting for Squidward at the Queen Elizabeth Hall is to be announced.

Other tour dates include Birmingham, Bradford, Oxford, Dublin, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Blackpool, Peterborough, Wolverhampton, Norwich, Leicester, Aberdeen and Plymouth.

The show is based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg, with a book by Kyle Jarrow and original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I. It also features songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley.

Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, additional music by Tom Kitt, and the musical production is conceived by Tina Landau.

The show is directed by Tara Overfield Wilkinson, with choreographer Fabian Aloise, designer Steve Howell, Musical Supervisor Mark Crossland, Musical Director Marcus Carter-Adams, Costume Designer Sarah Mercade, Lighting and Video Designer Ben Bull, Sound Designer Ben Harrison, Costume and Wig Supervisor Megan Rarity, Associate Choreographer Paris Green and Casting Director Harry Blumenau Casting. Selladoor Worldwide are the General Managers.

Book tickets to The Spongebob Musical at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London

More about the cast

Gareth Gates (Squidward) shot to fame in 2002, coming runner up in the UK’s first Pop Idol. He went on to sell over 5-million records worldwide including five UK number-one singles. His theatre credits include playing Marius in the both the West End and 25^th Anniversary Tour of Les Misérables, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End and on tour, Warner in the UK tour of Legally Blonde and Willard in the UK tour of Footloose.

Divina De Campo (Sheldon J. Plankton) is a seasoned British drag queen and singer who was recently crowned runner up on the first Series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Known for her high soprano and four -octave range, Divina has been featured on ITV’s The Voice and the BBC’s All Together Now. Her critically acclaimed theatre credits include Mary Sunshine in Chicago and most recently her award nominated performance as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Lewis Cornay (SpongeBob) was most recently seen as Amos in Whistle Down The Wind at The Watermill. His West End credits include The Book of Mormon, The King and I, The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. As a writer, Lewis had his debut play Daddy Issues premiere at the Seven Dials Playhouse last year.

Irfan Damani (Patrick Star) was most recently seen in The New Musketeers and The Aliens Who Saved Christmas as part of Trinity Theatre Christmas Rep. His West End credits include Raj in Billionaire Boy at the Garrick Theatre and Father in Ishq the Musical at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. On television he has appeared as Saleem in BBC One’s EastEnders and on film in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again.

Chrissie Bhima (Sandy) graduated from ArtsEd in 2022. Her theatre credits include Candy in Whistle Down The Wind at The Watermill, Jennifer in The Witches of Eastwick in Concert at the Sondheim Theatre and Avatar in Lift at the Southwark Playhouse.

Richard J Hunt (Mr Krabs) most recently appeared as Mudge in Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at the Southbank Centre. His other theatrical credits include Bromance The Dudesical at The Other Palace, the UK and European Tour of Jesus Christmas Superstar, Mack and Mabel at the Southwark Playhouse, Me and My Girl at the London Palladium and the UK and European Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. On television he has been seen BBC2’s Beautiful People, RTE’s The Late Late Show and Channel 4’s Teachers.

Sarah Freer (Pearl) has recently appeared in Jack and the Beanstalk at Sheffield Lyceum as well as in the UK Tour of Zog and the Flying Doctors. She has also appeared in The Color Purple at Cadogan Hall.

Eloise Davies’ (Mrs Puff) West End credits include 42 Balloons at the Vaudeville Theatre, Grease at the Dominion Theatre, Bonnie & Clyde in Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Taboo 10^th Anniversary at The London Palladium, Be More Chill at The Other Palace, and West End Heroes at the Dominion Theatre.

Hannah Lowther (Karen) has most recently appeared in the West End concerts for Emojiland at the Garrick Theatre and Kinky Boots at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. She has also appeared in Millennials in The Other Palace Studio and Heathers The Musical at The Other Palace where she made history as the first actress to play all three Heathers in Heathers The Musical and went on to win three West End Wilma Awards including Best Understudy.

Rebecca Lisewski (Mayor) most recently appeared in the West End in Strictly Ballroom at the Piccadilly Theatre. Her other West End credits include Mamma Mia! And Carousel. She has also appeared in the UK Tours of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Tango Moderno, The Last Tango, and Starlight Express.