The production was originally commissioned by Sadler's Wells and premiered at its home Islington base Sept. 3-11. The show, which features 12 dancers, 4 singers, a live band and over 250 pairs of shoes, tells of life through the street-level perspective of one of the great passions of the modern age – footwear.
The four singers for the West End run will be Tim Howar, Damian Humbley, Gemma Duffy and Jennifer Peers. The 12 dancers comprise Chloe Campbell, Lorraine Stewart, Alexis Owen-Hobbs, James O'Connell, Matt Clark, Flik Swan, Holly James, Kaisey Johnston, Jay Wilson, Jack Wilcox, Mikey Frome and Shaun Paul Smith.
The swing performers covering all roles are singers Laura Tebbutt and Patrick Smyth. Dancers joining the cast as swings are Daniel Ioannou and Jaye Elster.
Directed and choreographed by Stephen Mear (Broadway's The Little Mermaid, co-choreographer of Mary Poppins in the West End and Broadway, and choreographer of Sweet Charity currently at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket), the show also showcases choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (zero degrees, Sutra), Aletta Collins (Bloom, The Tempest, Jesus Christ Superstar), Kate Prince (Into the Hoods) and Mark Smith (Deaf Men Dancing), who under Mear’s direction, each worked on specific dance numbers set to Thomas' songs.
The show is designed by Tom Pye (Fiddler on the Roof), with costumes by Laura Hopkins (Blackwatch) and lighting design by Chris Davey (The Car Man). The set design also features films by artist and music video director Tim Hope (videos for Coldplay and R.E.M and projections for The Mighty Boosh UK tour) and BAFTA winner Gaëlle Denis. To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 412 4322, or visit www.sadlerswells.com.