Kick off your Sunday shoes for new show

Gareth Gates stars in Footloose, which comes to Blackpool Opera House in September

Blackpool stage star Maureen Nolan will be back in her hometown as new production Footloose: The Musical announces an Opera House run.

Joining the resort performer is former Pop Idol Gareth Gates, as part of a major UK tour which will stop off in Blackpool in September.

The new take on the show is in its final days of rehearsal before the tour starts in Bridlington on Friday.

Based on the 1984 film sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned.

Maureen Nolan will star in Footloose when it comes to Blackpool Opera House in September

All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet.

The show features classic 80s hits including Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy and the title track Footloose.

This new production promises to be ‘bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music’.

Maureen will play Vi Moore, following on from her stage success as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers, while Gareth plays Willard, to follow recent stage credits including Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Winter Gardens managing director Michael Williams said: “Footloose: The Musical is yet another great show heading to Blackpool Winter Gardens this year.

“It is particularly pleasing that Maureen Nolan is in the cast as she is a well-respected star of musicals and of course, she is local.

“With Gareth Gates in the cast too this is set to be an amazing production.

“We look forward to welcoming Maureen and Gareth and all of the cast of Footloose: The Musical in the autumn.”

Luke Baker will play Ren McCormack, the role immortalised on screen by Kevin Bacon. Luke recently played Theo in Green Day’s American Idiot in the West End, with other West End credits including the Olivier Award-winning Sunny Afternoon, Beautiful Thing and I Can’t Sing.

Also in the cast is former Blackpool and The Fylde College student Natalie Morton-Graham, who graduated in musical theatre in 2012.

The show runs at the Opera House from Monday to Saturday, September 19 to 24.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, costing from £15.

Visit www.wintergardensblackpool.com to book.