Chichester’s The Pajama Game confirms West End transfer to the Shaftesbury Theatre
Posted on 16 December 2013
It has been confirmed that Chichester Festival Theatre's critically acclaimed production of The Pajama Game will transfer to the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre next year. The Pajama Game will begin performances from 1st May 2014 ahead of an official opening night on 13th May. Directed by Richard Eyre, the production will run for a limited West End season until 13th September 2014.
Joanna Riding, who is currently starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Stephen Ward, will reprise her role as Babe Williams. She will star opposite West End regular Michael Xavier, who joins the cast to play the handsome superintendent, Sid Sorokin. Xavier was most recently seen in the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre’s production of The Sound of Music.
‘In 1950s America, love is in the air at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory as handsome new Superintendent Sid Sorokin (Michael Xavier) falls head-over-heels for firebrand Union rep Babe Williams (Joanna Riding). Sparks fly when the employees are refused a seven-and-a-half cents raise, leaving Sid and Babe deliciously at odds as the temperature rises. . . Will love, eventually, conquer all?’
Critics loved Chichester’s production, describing it as ‘A romping, uplifting, funny, touching revival’ (The Times), ‘A glorious tide of melody’ (The Guardian) and ‘smart, sexy and funny ...’ (Daily Express).
Richard Eyre said "The Pajama Game was the first musical I ever heard - on an album belonging to my sister when I was 14. I had never seen it until I directed it at Chichester. It was a long wait to discover what an entrancing, joyful, tuneful and sharp show it is."
Further casting to be announced.
Andrew Tomlins
