Share this article

Smash-hit musical Hairspray is set to tour the UK and Ireland next year in a major new production co-directed by Brenda Edwards.

Brenda Edwards will make her directorial debut as she joins Paul Kerryson to direct the 2024/25 touring production alongside award-winning choreographer Drew McOnie.

The Loose Women panelist has previously played “Motormouth” Maybelle in three tours of Hairspray, as well as appearing in Chicago and We Will Rock You.

Completing the creative team is Set and Costume Design by Takis, Lighting Design by Philip Gladwell, Sound Design by Ben Harrison, Musical Supervising and Arrangement by Ben Atkinson, Musical Direction by Richard Atkinson, Projection Design by George Reeve, Casting by Grindrod Burton and Resident Direction by Juliet Gough.

Brenda Edwards said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be invited by the producers to make my directorial debut on the show as a co-director with Paul Kerryson. Hairspray, and this production in particular, has been such a huge part of my life. The show’s story and themes are as relevant as ever and I cannot wait to hold the open auditions to discover a new cast and work together to present a vibrant new production of this timeless musical for everyone to enjoy.”

Mark Shaiman (Composer/Co-Lyricist) said: “Brenda Edwards has been a part of the Hairspray family since she took on the role of “Motormouth” Maybelle in 2015 and hearing that she is co-directing the latest tour is music to my ears. The strength and soul that Brenda brings to both her performances and her life have already made me a fan and I hope a friend for life, and I can’t wait to see how she brings her personal perspective to our show. Brava Brenda!”

Open audtions for the production will take place in November 2023.

The UK and Ireland tour will open in Manchester at the Palace Theatre on 16th July 2024 and tour through to July 2025 (see below for tour dates).

Hairspray is a musical based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Divine and Ricki Lake by cult filmmaker John Waters. With music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 and subsequently won eight Tony Awards. The production opened in London at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 and won four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. It most recently played at the London Coliseum in 2021 starring Michael Ball.

This iconic musical comedy featuring some of musical theatre’s best hit songs including Welcome To The 60s, You Can’t Stop The Beat and Good Morning Baltimore.

More info on 2024/25 tour of Hairspray

Hairspray UK & Ireland 2024/25 Tour date schedule

  • Manchester Palace (16 – 27 July)
  • Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (29 July – 3 August)
  • Canterbury Marlowe (6 – 10 August)
  • Liverpool Empire (19 – 24 August)
  • Belfast Grand Opera House (26 – 31 August)
  • Milton Keynes Theatre (2 – 7 September)
  • Southend Cliffs Pavilion (9 – 14 September)
  • Birmingham Hippodrome (16 – 21 September)
  • Edinburgh Playhouse (7 – 12 October)
  • Sheffield Theatres (14 – 19 October)
  • New Wimbledon Theatre (21 – 26 October)
  • Nottingham Theatre Royal (4 – 9 November)
  • Newcastle Theatre Royal (11 – 16 November)
  • Hull New Theatre (18 – 23 November)
  • Bradford Theatres (25 – Sat 30 November)
  • Southampton Mayflower (6 – 11 January)
  • Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre (20 – 25 January)
  • Glasgow Kings Theatre (27 Jan – 1 February 2024)

Further dates will be announced in due course.

Sign-up for news and booking alerts about these shows and more:
Main photo: Hairspray - UK Tour 2024

Related News

See all

Latest News

See all