The Commitments are back

The Commitments Are Back

It is 35 years since The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle’s best-selling novel. The world’s hardest working and most explosive soul band are set to return in an all new stage production, kicking off a huge nine month tour opening in Bromley in September. The show will then tour across the country before culminating in Brighton in July 2023.

This major UK and Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical will star Coronation Street legend Nigel Pivaro, who appeared in the hugely popular ITV soap between 1983 – 2012 as the lovable rogue Terry Duckworth.  He will be swapping the cobbles for the stage and performing the role of ‘Da’ in this all-new production.

Nigel Pivaro says: “I am thrilled to be marking my return to the stage in this production of The Commitments. It’s an iconic story that resonates across the years, about people who though distant from the music’s origins find communion and expression in the Motown style. A musical genre which was borne out of oppression and which the characters embrace as their own. The Motown Sound is as vibrant today as it was when it first burst through in the Sixties.”

Roddy Doyle added: “I’m delighted that The Commitments are coming back in 2022 & 2023 and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how Nigel Pivaro tackles the part of Jimmy Rabbitte’s Da.”

This new tour for 2022/23 is directed by Andrew Linnie. Andrew made his West End debut in the original production in 2013, playing the role of Dean, the band’s sax player. He then went on to star in the lead role of Jimmy Rabitte in the 2016/2017 UK tour.

LISTEN LIVE

Joining the cast as Deco is Olivier Award nominee Ian McIntosh. Ian is no stranger to this role, having previously played Alternate Deco during the original West End run. Previous credits include Galileo in the UK tour of We Will Rock You, Sid Worley in An Officer and a Gentleman and he was Olivier nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Musical’ for his role as Barry in Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. His extensive musical career has also seen him perform in Hair and Can’t Buy Me Love.

Other casting includes James Killeen as Jimmy, Stuart Reid as Joey, Ciara Mackey as Imelda, Michael Mahony as Oustpan, Ryan Kelly as Billy, Conor Litten as Dean, Guy Freeman as Derek, Stephen O’Riain as James, Ronnie Yorke as Mickah, Eve Kitchingman as Natalie, and Sarah Gardiner as Bernie. Maryann Lynch, Alice Croft, James Deegan, Callum Martin, Joshua Barton, Ed Thorpe and Colm Gleeson make up the ensemble.

The Commitments tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working-class music fan, who transforms an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, which becomes the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced. Placing a classified advert in a music paper, Jimmy auditions a number of wannabes before finalising the members of his new band, which he names ‘The Commitments’.

Humour kicks in as the band get to know each other and their instruments, grappling with inter-group differences as they muddle their way through early rehearsals for the band’s first gig. Just as they improve and begin to get a name for themselves, they combust. The backing singers are more interested in the middle-aged horn playing legend, the singer has entered Eurovision, the drummer has walked out mid-gig and the saxophone player has dangerous leanings towards a jazz career.

THE COMMITMENTS – TOUR DATES

2022

24/09/2022 – 01/10/2022              Bromley: Churchill Theatre

03/10/2022 – 08/10/2022              Portsmouth: King’s Theatre

10/10/2022 – 15/10/2022              Wolverhampton: Grand Theatre

17/10/2022 – 22/10/2022              Sheffield: Lyceum Theatre

24/10/2022 – 29/10/2022              Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes Theatre

31/10/2022 – 05/11/2022              Hull: New Theatre

07/11/2022 – 12/11/2022              York: Grand Opera House

14/11/2022 – 19/11/2022              Bradford: Alhambra Theatre

21/11/2022 – 26/11/2022              Aberdeen: His Majesty’s Theatre

28/11/2022 – 03/12/2022              Edinburgh: Playhouse

05/12/2022 – 10/12/2022              Glasgow: Theatre Royal

 

2023

09/01/2023 – 14/01/2023              London: New Wimbledon Theatre

16/01/2023 – 21/01/2023              Truro: Hall for Cornwall

23/01/2023 – 28/01/2023              Plymouth: Theatre Royal

30/01/2023 – 04/02/2023              Aylesbury: Waterside Theatre

06/02/2023 – 18/02/2023              Dublin: Olympia Theatre

20/02/2023 – 25/02/2023              Belfast: Grand Opera House

27/02/2023 – 04/03/2023              Ipswich: Regent Theatre

06/03/2023 – 11/03/2023              Bournemouth: Pavilion Theatre

13/03/2023 – 18/03/2023              Dartford: Orchard Theatre

20/03/2023 – 25/03/2023              Bristol: Hippodrome

27/03/2023 – 01/04/2023              Southampton: Mayflower Theatre

03/04/2023 – 08/04/2023              Nottingham: Theatre Royal

10/04/2023 – 15/04/2023              Northampton: Royal & Derngate

17/04/2023 – 22/04/2023              Liverpool: Empire

24/04/2023 – 29/04/2023              Birmingham: Hippodrome

01/05/2023 – 06/05/2023              Blackpool: Opera House

08/05/2023 – 13/05/2023              Darlington: Hippodrome

15/05/2023 – 20/05/2023              Peterborough: New Theatre

22/05/2023 – 27/05/2023              Cardiff: Wales Millennium Centre

29/05/2023 – 03/06/2023              Llandudno: Venue Cymru

05/06/2023 – 10/06/2023              Manchester: Opera House

13/06/2023 – 17/06/2023              Reading: Hexagon

26/06/2023 – 01/07/2023              Newcastle: Theatre Royal

03/07/2023 – 08/07/2023              Brighton: Theatre Royal

 

Tickets available now