Bananaman, the Man-of-Peel, is flying out of the pages of much-loved comic Beano, and the hugely popular TV cartoon, and into the world premiere of Bananaman the Musical, the hilarious new musical comedy by Leon Parris.
Bananaman is a unique member of the superhero ranks. He may have a jawline you can see from space and sport an exciting tight, lycra outfit, but this superhero has the muscles of 20 men and the brain of 20 mussels. Which isn’t much! Bananaman will be attempting to save the world at London’s Southwark Playhouse this Christmas.
Matthew McKenna, who plays the lead role, has appeared in many major West End musicals, including The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Legally Blonde the Musical, We Will Rock You, Starlight Express (as Elektra), and The Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff) and both Singing in the Rain and 42nd Street at the Theatre Du Chatelet, Paris.
Also starring, as Bananaman’s arch nemesis Doctor Gloom, the super villain seeking world domination, will be Marc Pickering (Young “Nucky” Thompson in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Montparnasse in the Les Misérables movie).
Bringing the rest of the residents of Acacia Road to life are a stellar West End cast.
Jodie Jacobs (Broadway World Award Best Supporting Actress for Rock Of Ages) is Eric’s loyal sidekick, Crow; Mark Newnham (Dave Davies, in Sunny Afternoon) is Eric Wimp and Carl Mullaney (Les Misérables, Chicago) is General Blight.
Fans of the TV series will remember the iconic opening sequence, “This is 29 Acacia Road. And this is Eric Wimp. He’s a schoolboy who leads an amazing double life. For when Eric eats a banana an amazing transformation occurs. Eric is Bananaman. Ever alert for the call to action…”
Bananaman the Musical, written and composed by Leon Parris, directed by Mark Perry, will run at Southwark Playhouse from December 15th 2017 to January 20th 2018.
See www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk or www.bananamanlive.com for details and to book.
