Gemma Arterton lands lead in West End Made in Dagenham
Preview by Jack Foley
GEMMA Arterton is to play the lead role in the West End version of Made in Dagenham.
The former Bond girl and theatre regular will play Rita O’Grady, a part played on the big screen by Sally Hawkins.
The musical comedy chronicles how women were forced to battle for equal rights at a Ford factory in Essex in 1968. O’Grady is the character who led the way.
In a statement, Arterton said she was “beyond thrilled” to be starring in the show, adding: “It’s an important story that I’m passionate about telling, and we intend to tell it with wit, warmth and, of course, a lot of singing and dancing in this production.”
Arterton is no stranger to theatre and has openly discussed her passion for the stage, saying that she intends to return to it as much as possible. Indeed, she has just finished playing the lead role in The Duchess of Malfi at the new Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in London.
And she has previously appeared in the plays The Little Dog Laughed and The Master Builder.
Her film credits include the 2008 Bond film Quantum of Solace as well as Tamara Drewe and last year’s Runner Runner alongside Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake.
The stage version of Made in Dagenham will be directed by Rupert Goold, whose previous credits include Enron and the recent American Psycho musical starring Doctor Who‘s Matt Smith.
He described Made in Dagenham as an “engaging, relatable and vital story” and said he intends to create a “big-hitting, big-hearted musical”.
The show will also star Adrian Der Gregorian, as Rita’s husband Eddie, and feature music by James Bond composer David Arnold and lyrics by Richard Thomas of Jerry Springer: The Opera fame.
Previews commence at the Adelphi Theatre on October 9, 2014 with an official opening night scheduled for November 5.