Share this article

Casting has been announced for the new musical adaptation of hit noughties TV series Footballers’ Wives.

Footballers’ Wives The Musical is set to play the Assembly Rooms (Music Hall) in Edinburgh from 30 July to 24 August 2025.

Directed by Anthony Banks (The Girl on the Train, Steel Magnolias), the show’s choreography will be by Olivier Award-winner Arlene Phillips (Guys & Dolls, The Wizard of Oz).

Footballers’ Wives will star Ceili O’Connor (Mary Poppins) as leading WAG Tanya Turner, and Matt Beveridge (The Choir of Man) as her ruthless husband midfielder Jason Turner.

The show also stars India Chadwick (Grease) as Chardonnay Lane, Leesa Tulley (Why Am I So Single?, Six The Musical) as Donna Walmsley, Tom Bowen (Get Up, Stand Up) as Kyle Pascoe, Oliver Evans as Ian Walmsley, Ty-Reece Stewart (Thriller Live) as Ronnie Charles/Marcello, Emma-Jane Fearnley (Made in Dagenham) as Kelly Charles/Magda, Laura Judge (Gypsy) as Hazel Bailey/Jackie Pascoe, Matt Rixon (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as Frank Laslett, Leonardo Vieira (Bat Out of Hell) as Salvo/Guru, and Gillian Kirkpatrick (Billy Elliot) as Nurse Dunkley.

Footballers’ Wives The Musical features music and lyrics by Kath Gotts (Bad Girls The Musical) and a book by Maureen Chadwick, the original creator of the TV series Footballers’ Wives, Bad Girls, and Waterloo Road.

The wider creative team includes Set & Video Design by Andrzej Goulding, Costume Design by Susan Kulkarni, Lighting Design by Jamie Platt, Sound Design by Matt Peploe, Orchestrations by Joe Davison and Nikki Davison, Music Supervision by Joe Davison, Music Director Gemma Hawkins, Production Manager Mark Hartley, Casting Director Harry Blumenau, Associate Choreographer Richard Roe, Associate Musical Director Livs Needham, and Costume Supervisor Sophie Fuller.

In Footballers’ Wives The Musical, epic fashion, attempted murder, sexual impropriety, drama, heartbreak, comedy, singing, dancing all come together, in this new musical about the women behind the players.

Leesa Tulley said in a statement: “I am so excited to be a part of Footballers’ Wives: The Musical at Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. Being from Scotland, performing at The Fringe has always been pretty high up on my bucket list, and I can’t think of a better show to be doing for my first time! Footballers’ Wives is so 2000’s! All the drama and some really gorgeous songs. AND in The Assembly Rooms?! It’s going to be an amazing summer, I can’t wait!”

India Chadwick said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Footballers’ Wives cast as Chardonnay – an iconic character from a fabulous time in British pop culture. If the script and company are anything to go by, this summer is going to be a blast! I have some very big heels to fill, but I’m excited to bring some noughties naughtiness, fun and glamour to my first Edinburgh Fringe.”

The show has been in development for a while, with a workshop taking place in 2019 featuring Simon Bailey (Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular), and Alice Fearn (Dear Evan Hansen).

An album for the show was also released in 2022 with an event at Musical Con at the ExCel in London. The album’s cast includes Alice Fearn and Ivano Turco. Listen to the album on Spotify, and watch clips of the recordings.

Footballers’ Wives The Musical is playing the Assembly Rooms (Music Hall) in Edinburgh from 30 July to 24 August 2025.

There’s no current news about a London or West End production of Footballers’ Wives, but check back for details or sign-up for alerts.

More about tickets to Footballers’ Wives The Musical

Sign-up for booking alerts, offers & news about Footballers' Wives The Musical and other shows:
Main photo: Footballers' Wives The Musical - Casting. Photo by Seamus Ryan

Related News

See all

Latest News

See all