Full casting is announced today for next month’s special gala charity concert of Robert J. Sherman’s new musical BUMBLESCRATCH at West End’s Adelphi Theatre. The 13-strong company will include twelve-year-old Ilan Galkoff (Matilda, Oliver!) in the lead child role, joining previously announced adult leads Darren Day, Michael Xavier and Jessica Martin.
The one-off performance of BUMBLESCRATCH takes place at 6.30pm on Sunday 4 September 2016 as part of the commemorations for the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, which raged in the East End for four days from 2 to 5 September 1666. The gala concert is held in aid of Variety, the Children’s Charity.
Ilan Galkoff will play Perry, the children’s role which was created in the 2013 workshop by Sebastian Croft, now a rising screen star whose current television credits include Game of Thrones (Young Ned Stark) and Penny Dreadful. Sebastian recently helped announce Bumblescratch’s West End premiere with an exclusive video announcement and, in June, reprised songs from the show at West End Live.
Sebastian Croft will be in attendance at the West End gala on 4 September to cheer on Ilan, who he’s previously performed onstage with in Oliver! Ilan’s other credits in the West End include Elf The Musical (in which he played the son of Bumblescratch co-star Jessica Martin), Matilda, Oresteia and I Can’t Sing.
On the casting of Perry, Robert J. Sherman said:
“Perry the Plague Rat” was my initial inspiration for Bumblescratch and the first character I created. He’s an orphan child and a catalyst for the journey through London that the title character, Melbourne Bumblescratch (Darren Day) takes us on.
For the workshop of Bumblescratch in 2013, we auditioned 50 boys; amongst the three called back were Sebastian Croft, who we later cast, and Ilan Galkoff. Ilan was terrific – he sang like an angel – but at that point he was too young. I’ve stayed in touch with his family and asked him to audition again this time. He’s now the perfect age to take on the role, plus he really looks the part of this vulnerable street urchin, is a pitch-perfect singer and a wonderful actor with an incredibly impressive CV for a 12-year-old. I can’t wait to see him play Perry.”
Other cast members announced today include Jacob Chapman (Sunset Boulevard at ENO, Grand Hotel at Southwark Playhouse), Teddy Moynihan and Cathy Read.
Jacob Chapman plays Socrates. His credits include Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd (ENO), Grand Hotel (Southwark Playhouse), The Smallest Show on Earth (UK Tour), We Will Rock You (Dominion) and The Mikado (Charing Cross Theatre). Teddy Moynihan plays Squabbler. He trained at Arts Educational. He will be making his professional debut in Bumblescratch. Cathy Read plays Thamesa. She recently appeared in the ensemble for Eugenius at the London Palladium.
The full ensemble includes Alistair Barron, James Dangerfield, Emma Harrold, Katie Kerr, Jessie May and Dickie Wood.
