Paul Chuckle has said he is “delighted” to take part in the National Theatre tour of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice.
The 78-year-old, whose real name is Paul Elliott, will play Mr Boo on the tour of the Jim Cartwright play, alongside Silent Witness actress Francesca Mills, who will play the title role, and The Long Shadow star Jill Halfpenny, who will play Mari Hoff.
The play, directed by Robert Hastie, will run at the National Theatre in London from December 2 to January 23, before heading out on tour, visiting locations including Newcastle, Sheffield and Salford.
Chuckle said: “I am delighted to be joining Francesca Mills and Jill Halfpenny in Jim Cartwright’s iconic play The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice.
“I can’t wait to get into rehearsals with Robert Hastie and this fantastic team. To perform at the National Theatre and then head out on tour across England is a dream come true.”
Mills, who worked with Hastie in Hamlet at the National Theatre, said: “I can’t wait to reunite with director Robert Hastie to take on the wonderful role of Little Voice and I am elated to work alongside Jill Halfpenny and Paul Chuckle.
“My first show I ever did at the National was in the Dorfman Theatre so to be returning to that beautiful space over Christmas followed by a tour around England – I’m truly over the moon.”
The production is said to be a “joyful, tender and bittersweet celebration of music, ambition and the courage it takes to be heard”, and will feature music from the likes of Judy Garland and Dame Shirley Bassey.
Halfpenny said: “I’m so excited to playing the role of Mari Hoff in Jim Cartwright’s beloved Northern play The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice.
“I have long admired Jim’s work and to get the opportunity to play this role at the National Theatre and at theatres across England this winter is very special.”
Tickets for The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice will go on sale from midday on Thursday May 21, with sales at some venues at a later date.
Further information and full tour dates are available from the National Theatre’s website.
