Casting has been announced for new musical The Parent Agency based on David Baddiel’s best-selling book.
The show boasts music and additional lyrics by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells (Everybody’s Talking about Jamie), with David Baddiel adapting his book for the stage.
Directed by Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), Merrily We Roll Along), The Parent Agency is premiering at Storyhouse Chester from 15 February to 2 March 2025, ahead of a national tour and London run.
The show will star Max Bispham (Les Miserables, Mrs Doubtfire), Osian Salter (Les Miserables, The Osmonds A New Musical), Eli Sowden-Mehta (Wonka, Blitz, Wicked) and Louis Wilkins (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), sharing the lead role of Barry.
Also, Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) will play Susan, and Rakesh Boury (Matilda, The Creakers) will play Geoff.
Completing the cast are Kazmin Borrer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Elliot Broadfoot (Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder), Natasha Cayabyab (Shrek the Musical), Dylan Collymore (Shrek The Musical), Sarah McFarlane (SIX), Joshian Angelo Omaña (Why Am I So Single?) Alan Vicary (Girl From The North Country), Ralph Birthwell (Life of Pi), Althea Burey (The Gruffalo), Elliot Copeland (Becoming Nancy), Jessica Daugirda (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Sophia Lewis (Around The World in 80 Days) and Robbie Scott (Sunshine on Leith).
In the show, eleven-year-old Barry Bennett hates his name. In fact, it’s number one on the list of things he blames his parents, Susan and Geoff, for along with “being boring, never buying him cool stuff, being tired all the time and being too strict”. So, he makes a wish for a better mum and dad and finds himself whisked away to Youngdon in the ‘United Kid-dom’, an alternate universe where kids get to pick out their perfect parents with the assistance of the staff of the eponymous Parent Agency.
For Barry, this seems like a dream come true, although he soon learns that choosing a new mum and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds…
Joining Tim Jackson in the creative team are designer Jon Bausor (Spirited Away, Bat Out of Hell), choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX, Dear Evan Hansen), costume designer Sarah Mercadé (Jesus Christ Superstar, 101 Dalmatians), lighting designer Zoe Spurr (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Assistant Director Francesca Hsieh (VANYA), with Music Supervisor Nick Finlow (Back to The Future, The Book of Mormon), Music Director Ellen Campbell (Waitress), Sound Designer Paul Gatehouse (Mary Poppins, The Little Big Things), Associate Sound Designer Richard Jones, and Wig, Hair and Make-Up Designer Craig Forrest-Thomas (Mrs Doubtfire). Casting Director is Olivia Laydon CDG for Jill Green Casting, and Children’s Casting is by Amy Beadel CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.
The show is produced by John Berry and Anthony Lilley of Scenario Two and Suzie Henderson and Helen Redcliffe of Storyhouse.
The musical was originally announced back in March 2023, and confirmed for its Storyhouse Chester run in October.
The Parent Agency is playing at Storyhouse Chester from 15 February to 2 March 2025. Dates of the UK tour and London run are to be announced.
More about tickets to The Parent Agency The Musical
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