West End star Frances Ruffelle (Les Miserables, Starlight Express) has had to step away from her role in Pet Shop Boys and Jonathan Harvey musical Closer to Heaven due to injury.
Her role as Billie Trix has been taken over by the West End’s Jenna Lee James (Frozen), who will have her first performance tonight, 15 July 2024, at the Turbine Theatre in London, after only a few days of rehearsals.
Frances Ruffelle has fractured her ankle and on doctor’s orders is having to leave the show, although she hopes to rejoin the run before Closer to Heaven closes in a couple of weeks, on 27 July 2024.
Jenna Lee James took to social media with a statement saying: “I cannot actually believe I am writing this but I will be opening this Monday 15th July in ‘Closer to Heaven’ at the @turbinetheatre playing the icon that is BILLIE TRIX! Due to injury and on doctors orders the insanely talented @francesruffelle is having to rest up. So after a call late on Thursday evening and just 2 whirlwind days of rehearsals with this incredible cast and director I will be stepping into Frances’s shoes (and they are big shoes to fill) on Monday evening! To anyone who has already bought tickets I hope I can do the role justice and I know you will love this incredible cast. I have a lot to learn tomorrow but as Billie would say.”
Other cast in the show include Courtney Bowman (Legally Blonde) as Shell Christian, Glenn Adamson (Bat Out Of Hell) as Dave, Connor Carson (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Lee, Kurt Kansley (RENT) as Vic Christian, David Muscat (Billy Elliot) as Bob Saunders, Lewis Brown (Queenz) as Flynn, with Beth Curnock, Jamie Tait and Cian Hughes as Babes.
Directed by Simon Hardwick, the show has choreography by Christopher Tendai with casting by Will Burton CDG.
Closer to Heaven has a book by Jonathan Harvey (Coronation Street, Beautiful Thing, Here You Come Again) and an original club score by Pet Shop Boys, the UK’s most successful pop duo.
Closer to Heaven is playing at the Turbine Theatre to 27 July 2024.
We wish Frances a speedy recovery.
Book tickets to Closer to Heaven at the Turbine Theatre in London
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