Press Release
BIGGEST-EVER MUSICAL… CHITTY FLIES IN TO WALES
The fantasmagorical `Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' opens in a month's time (July 3) - the biggest West End musical ever to be staged in Wales.
With three Wales-born stars on board, the magical car flies to Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) after four years enchanting children young and old at London Palladium.
Aled Jones plays potty inventor Caractacus Potts. The TV presenter, singer and radio star faces a gruelling 68 performances in the lead role, stretching over eight weeks.
The Bangor-born star is joined by Celebrity Big Brother survivor Ian `H' Watkins, born in the Rhondda, as the world's most boo-able villain, the Childcatcher.
Anglesey's Tony Adams, a veteran of Crossroads, is Grandpa Potts.
In addition, five pairs of Welsh boys and girls will be starring as Caractacus's children, Jemima and Jeremy.
The sheer size and scale of the show, which opens on 3 July 2008, is summed up in some breath-taking figures.
Transporting the sensational sets and stunning special effects into Cardiff will require 12 45ft trucks, with 130 people employed to move the show and set it up at the venue. Not only that: the touring version of Chitty brings with it a cast of:
· 35 actors, dancers and singers
· 16 musicians
· 30 technicians
· 39 local Welsh girls and boys, playing Jemima, Jeremy and the sewer kids
· And not forgetting … 10 dogs
The task of organising it all is a labour of love for WMC's technical director, Martin Hunt.
He said, "The sheer scale of Chitty makes it a real challenge for everyone who works backstage. Getting all the sets and equipment into the WMC – not to mention the car – will take us a couple of weeks."
The size of the show outstrips previous musicals performed in WMC's Donald Gordon Theatre. Miss Saigon, staged at WMC in summer 2005, featured 50 actors and musicians.
And the scale of the show is matched by its lavish technical detail. The famous flying car itself cost close to £3/4million to build – and made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the most expensive stage prop ever created.
The car's mechanisms have been specially built for the tour, but the section the actors sit in is the one from the original London production. The car's exact weight is not known but the show's producers say it is "tons and tons".
Tickets have been selling fast since booking opened in September. Several of the 68 performances are close to selling out – and although it's not too late for theatre-goers to get their hands on tickets, Wales Millennium Centre is advising people to book soon to avoid disappointment.
The musical is based closely on the much-loved 1968 musical film which was adapted for the big screen by Cardiff-born children's author Roald Dahl from the 1964 book written by Bond creator Ian Fleming.
This stage version includes many of the songs from the original soundtrack, including Truly Scrumptious, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title theme, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Artistic Director Adrian Noble was then charged with adding to and cutting scenes and characters from the film, while the multi Oscar and Grammy winning composers Richard and Robert Sherman – who wrote the original score, as well as music for such musicals as Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks – have penned some new musical numbers.
Fiona Allan, Arts and Audience Development Director at Wales Millennium Centre, said she was thrilled to be welcoming Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to the WMC stage.
"Who doesn't remember watching the film on television as a child? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one of the most iconic musicals of all time, and what better venue to host its Welsh premiere than a modern-day iconic Welsh building like WMC?
"For many young children in the audience this will be their first ever trip to the theatre – and there's nothing quite like the magic of experiencing a live show for the first time. But even for regular theatre-goers, the sheer ambition and scale of this production is sure to impress. We are expecting jaws to drop when Chitty takes flight.
"Chitty is both the largest scale musical ever to come to WMC as well as having the most performances – 68 in total. It has only been to a handful of venues in the UK, as it's simply too large a production for most. Again, this proves WMC's international reputation as one of the leading theatres in the UK. And Cardiff is the last stop of the tour, so don't miss out!"
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flies into Wales Millennium Centre from 3 July to August 30. Tickets are on sale now, priced from £10 to £39.50. To book, call 087010 40 2000 or visit www.wmc.org.uk