The Birmingham Hippodrome has announced the cast and director for its original new musical The Jingleclaw.
Written by Robyn Grant and Tim Gilvin, the musical will run from 12 December 2024 to 4 January 2025 at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
The Jingleclaw stars Alexia McIntosh (SIX The Musical) as Jingleclaw, Isabella Gervais (God Catcher) as Astrid, Mpilo May (Soldier On, Shakespeare in Love) as Dad, Miiya Alexandra (The King and I, Amelie The Musical) as Jacob, Alex Cardall (What The Butler Saw, The Box of Delights) as Hans, and Sue Appleby (The Winslow Boy, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as Mrs. Whimsy.
The show will be directed by award-winner Anthony Lau, former Associate Artistic Director at Sheffield Theatres whose directing credits include The Crucible, Miss Saigon, Rock/Paper/Scissors, Anna Karenina, The Band Plays On and The Good Person of Szechwan.
The Jingleclaw is the first in a series of musicals for children to be produced by Birmingham Hippodrome through the Hippodrome’s in-house new musical theatre department – the first in the UK, set up in 2023 and led by Creative Director, Chris Sudworth, and Head of New Musical Theatre, Deirdre O’Halloran.
The Jingleclaw tells the story of Astrid, a young girl with a big heart and even bigger ideas. In a cosy village nestled in the snowy mountains, the Shnootnoot Winter Festival is fast approaching. Astrid is busy practising to play with her school band. Everyone wants her to keep in time, but Astrid just wants to march to the beat of her own drum. Meanwhile, deep in the Winterwood, The Jingleclaw awakes, a mischievous monster who can’t STAND festive cheer and music.
Director Anthony Lau said in a statement: “Nurturing the next generation of theatre makers and goers is so important, and it’s brilliant that Birmingham Hippodrome recognise this and see the value in investing in great work made especially for them. I’m incredibly excited to be directing The Jingleclaw and to be a part of the Hippodrome’s innovative My First Musical programme. Robyn and Tim are supremely gifted writers with a knack for the mischievous and, with The Jingleclaw, we’re setting out to make a new musical for the whole family. We can’t wait to share the magic of a musical with them. With bats. And a power ballad. And a naughty, cuddly, monster who can’t stand festive cheer.”
Chris Sudworth, the Hippodrome’s Creative Director, said: “It is so exciting to see this talented cast come together under Anthony’s direction, bringing the fun and silliness of Robyn and Tim’s writing to life. We also couldn’t have a more mischievous, playful performer in the title role than Birmingham’s own Alexia McIntosh – who Hippodrome audiences will remember from SIX and our 2021 panto, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Early rehearsals have been hugely energetic and entertaining. I can’t wait for our first new musical, The Jingleclaw, to bring the fun and festive cheer to the Patrick Studio.”
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