Sherlock star Amanda Abbington will make her musical theatre debut in the UK premiere of A Little Princess.
The 44-year-old, who played John Watson’s wife Mary in the BBC drama series, will play strict boarding school headmistress Miss Minchin.
The musical, based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel of the same name, tells the story of Sara Crewe, the daughter of a wealthy army captain who is sent from her home in Africa to school in London.
The production was created by Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist Andrew Lippa, with book and lyrics by Brian Crawley.
This is happening. https://t.co/ageHHM13iD
— amanda abbington (@CHIMPSINSOCKS) April 5, 2018
Also confirmed to be starring in A Little Princess is former Hollyoaks and Strictly Come Dancing star Danny Mac, who will play Sara’s father, Captain Crewe.
Mac, 30, is currently playing the leading role in the UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, and has also appeared in On The Town at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Thousands of youngsters have been auditioned for the 10 child roles in the production, which have yet to be revealed.
The one-off semi-staged concert performance is directed by Arlene Phillips and will see Lippa fly in from the US to conduct.
The show will feature the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra when it premieres at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on May 28.