Janette Manrara to star as Roxie Hart in Chicago UK tour

Janette Manrara to Make Musical Theatre Debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago UK Tour

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional and TV presenter Janette Manrara is set to dazzle audiences in the UK & Ireland tour of Chicago. Manrara will make her musical theatre debut in the iconic role of Roxie Hart from 3 March 2025 at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend. She will take over the role from Faye Brookes who opened the new tour last year.

“A Dream Come True”

Expressing her excitement, Janette shared:
“This is a dream come true! To have my musical theatre debut be playing the iconic Roxie Hart is so exciting. She is a beautifully complex character, and I cannot wait to bring my ‘Roxie’ to the stage. I truly look forward to working with the incredible cast and the whole team of one of the best musicals of all time. Looking forward to seeing everyone that comes to the show and giving them a real ‘razzle dazzle’ of a show!”

A Star-Studded Cast

Joining Janette on stage will be West End favorite Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly, Joshua Lloyd as Amos Hart, and Jordan Lee Davies as Mary Sunshine. Casting for the roles of Billy Flynn and Mama Morton will be announced soon.

The ensemble includes an impressive roster of performers: Bethany Adamson, Victoria Anderson, Josh Crowther, Joe Dale, Jessica Keable, Robin Kent, Annabelle Laing, Jacob McLay Reid, Jonathan Milton, George Olney, Oliver Ramsdale, Elly Shaw, Lucy Anne Stacey, Matthew Sweet, and Ria Tanaka.

About Janette Manrara

Known for her stellar performances on Strictly Come Dancing, where she reached the finals with HRVY, Janette has also co-hosted BBC Two’s It Takes Two and the Strictly Live Tour. Her theatre credits include the international tour of Burn the Floor and various UK touring productions alongside her husband, Aljaž Škorjanec. Janette is also an author, with her debut book Tiny Dancer, Big World released in 2023.

This marks an exciting chapter for Janette Manrara and a great opportunity for fans to see her shine in one of musical theatre’s most iconic roles. Don’t miss the razzle-dazzle of Chicago!

The Story of Chicago

Set in the dazzling decadence of 1920s Chicago, the musical tells the tale of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her lover in a fit of rage. Desperate to avoid conviction, Roxie teams up with a slick lawyer to manipulate public opinion and turn her crime into a media sensation. Featuring iconic songs like “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” and “Razzle Dazzle,” Chicago is a timeless story of ambition, betrayal, and showbiz glamour.

A Global Phenomenon

Created by the legendary team of John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago has captivated audiences worldwide. Since its Broadway revival in 1996, it has been performed in 38 countries and translated into 12 languages, grossing over $1.7 billion and playing to over 34 million people.

Tour Dates

The Chicago UK and Ireland tour, which opened in October last year at Milton Keynes Theatre, has captivated audiences with Faye Brookes as Roxie Hart. Her final performance will take place on 1 March 2025 at the New Oxford Theatre.

Janette Manrara will take over the role beginning 3 March at Cliffs Pavilion, Southend. She will perform across a wide range of venues, including Dublin, Belfast, Bournemouth, Nottingham, Birmingham, Truro, Llandudno, Cardiff, Canterbury, Bristol, Wimbledon, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Hull, Eastbourne, Norwich, Blackpool, Woking, Sunderland, Crawley, and Glasgow, before concluding the tour in Salford in August 2025.