First look new show The Parent Agency - The Musical ahead of opening at Chester Storyhouse

Excitement is growing with less than two weeks to go before the fantastic family show The Parent Agency – The Musical opens at Chester Storyhouse.

The Parent Agency – The Musical is the new stage spectacular version of writer, comedian and presenter David Baddiel’s award-winning children’s bestseller.

It comes to the Storyhouse main stage from Saturday 15 February to Sunday 2 March and promises to be one of the biggest theatrical events of the year.

The new production has a book and lyrics by David Baddiel with music and additional lyrics by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells. It is produced by Scenario Two and Chester Storyhouse and directed by Tim Jackson.

And today exclusive images from inside rehearsals for the unmissable new musical can also be revealed.

The Parent Agency – The Musical will appeal to anyone who is, or has been, a child. And also, to anyone who is, or who has had, at least one parent. And definitely to anyone who wishes they weren’t called Barry.

Barry Bennett hates his name. In fact, it’s number one on the list of things the 11-year-old blames his parents (Susan and Geoff) for, along with “being boring, never buying him cool stuff, being tired all the time and being too strict.” So he makes a wish for a better mum and dad, and finds himself whisked away to Youngdon in the ‘United Kid-dom’, an alternative universe where kids get to pick out their perfect parents with the help of the staff of the eponymous Parent Agency.

The Parent Agency Rehearsals — Credit Marc Brenner

For Barry this seems like a dream come true, although he soon learns that choosing a new mum and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds….

Talented young actors Max Bishpham (Les Miserables, Mrs Doubtfire), Osian Salter (Les Miserables, The Osmonds a New Musical), Eli Sowden-Mehta (Wonka, Blitz, Wicked) and Louis Wilkins (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) will share the lead role of Barry.

Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) plays Susan and Rakesh Boury (Matilda, The Creakers) appears as Geoff.

The cast also includes Kazmin Borrer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Elliot Broadfoot (Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder), Natasha Cayabyab (Shrek the Musical), Dylan Collymore (Shrek the Musical), Sarah McFarlane (SIX), Joshian Angelo Omana (Why Am I So Single?), Alan Vicary (Girl from the North Country), Ralph Birthwell (Life of Pi), Althea Burey (The Gruffalo), Elliot Copeland (Becoming Nancy), Jessica Daugirda (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Sophia Lewis (Around the World in 80 Days) and Robbie Scott (Sunshine on Leith).

David Baddiel’s books have achieved exceptional success and have been translated into 30 languages. His children’s books have received huge critical acclaim and have won some of children’s literature’s highest accolades including the Laugh Out Loud award for The Parent Agency.

Dan Gillespie Sells, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of The Feeling, has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim for his work in musical theatre. He composed the music for the West End hit Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which received multiple Olivier Award nominations, toured nationally and internationally and was adapted into an Amazon Original film.

His work has earned him an Ivor Novello Award, Olivier, BAFTA and BRIT nominations, and he was named Stonewall’s Entertainer of the Decade in 2015 for his contributions to the LGBT community.

The creative team also includes director Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Merrily We Roll Along), designer John Bausor (Spirited Away, Bat Out of Hell), choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX, Dear Evan Hansen), costume designer Sarah Mercadé (Jesus Christ Superstar, 101 Dalmatians, The Spongebob Musical), lighting designer Zoe Spurr (The Curious Incident of Benjamin Button, Fantastically Great Women who Changed the World, Bonnie and Clyde), and assistant director Francesca Hsieh (VANYA), with Musical Supervisor Nick Finlow (Back to the Future, The Book of Mormon), Musical Director Ellen Campbell (Waitress, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Sound Designer Paul Gatehouse (Mary Poppins, The Little Big Things), Associate Sound Designer Richard Jones, Wig, Hair and Make-up Designer Craig Forrest-Thomas (Mrs Doubtfire, Buyer & Cellar), Casting Director Olivia Layden CDG for Jill Green Casting and Children’s Casting by Amy Beadle CDG for Grindrod Burton Castin.

The Parent Agency Rehearsals - Chester Storyhouse — Credit Marc Brenner

Suzie Henderson – Creative Director at Storyhouse said:

“We’re thrilled to have the world premiere of this brand-new British musical at Storyhouse, with an outstanding team of cast and creatives, before it heads to the West End and beyond.

“Bringing world class theatre to Chester is a huge part of our mission at Storyhouse, ad we can’t wait for our wonderful audiences of all ages to experience this show – we know they’re going to absolutely love it.”