Mary Poppins | Prince Edward Theatre, West End, London
News | Cast prepare to return to Cherry Tree Lane
Feed the Birds will always be my favourite number from Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s hit production of Disney’s Mary Poppins, and Zizi Strallen my favourite flying nanny. Practically perfect, as I said in my review of her opening night at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Zizi was born to play the role.
📸 Cameron Macintosh/Disney
I’ve loved this musical since first seeing it in London, then at the Edinburgh Playhouse, on its opening night in Dublin and, again, in Edinburgh, this time at the Festival Theatre.
So it’s not just Sir Cameron and Disney that are delighted to see the Olivier award-winning production set to resume performances at the Prince Edward Theatre from 7 August 2021, I am too.
Better still, after more a year of shutdown, the company will again be led by Strallen, with Charlie Stemp as her Bert.
📸 Johan Persson
Sir Cameron says, “The last year has been unbelievably hard for everyone but particularly so for the Theatre profession. I have been moved and inspired by the resilience and camaraderie of so many practitioners from all aspects of our industry who have taken on any job so that they and their families could survive.
“I am therefore thrilled to announce that the world’s most beloved Nanny is now able to return to give us a Supercalifragilistic time from 7 August – now that the Prime Minister has told us that we are on track to reopen “cautiously but irreversibly” this summer.
📸 Líam Rudden Theatre
“Even if foreign travel is still a big question mark, Mary Poppins is the one Jolly Holiday you can book with certainty this summer! A huge welcome back to the theatre to my wonderful artists and our brilliantly supportive audiences.”
Brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs, the magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane opened in London 16 years ago and is adapted from the stories of PL Travers and the original Walt Disney film.
Watching the production in Dublin, I reflected that Strallen, ‘with melodic expression, nifty footwork and the odd knowing glance, embraces and cherishes the other-worldliness of Poppins. Magical and wise, tender but with no quarter given, she isn’t practically perfect in the role, she is, quite simply, perfect; the definitive you might say’.
📸 Johan Persson
I also noted that, ‘Dance routines are huge infectious ensemble numbers that bubble and fizz with colour and energy… with Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear overseeing choreography, you would hardly expect anything less.’
Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer Disney Theatrical Productions, says, “Theatre is a foundational human need that has roared back following every interruption for thousands of years. My friend Cameron Mackintosh and I believe that has never been truer than now. And that there is no better re-entry to theatre than Mary Poppins, a tale about the healing power of enchantment and a family made whole. What better time than now to spend an evening at 17 Cherry Tree Lane?”
Mary Poppins was the winner of Best Musical Revival at the 2020 Whatsonstage Awards and Best Set Design and Best Theatre Choreographer awards at the 2020 Olivier Awards.
Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton Street, London, is now booking to 13 February 2022, tickets from £20, Box Office 0844 482 5151 or go online to visit marypoppinsonstage.co.uk
Líam Rudden - Theatre 