Pretty Woman: The Musical Announces Cast for Sunderland Empire Visit

By Grace Hatchell

Get your best outfit ready, Sunderland. Pretty Woman: The Musical is heading to the Empire, and I’m already wondering whether my sensible postal shoes count as evening wear. They’ve carried me through rain, sleet and several questionable garden paths. A little Hollywood glamour ought to be well within their capabilities.

The musical visits Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 29 June to Saturday 3 July 2027, with Molly Rainford starring as Vivian Ward, Danny Walters as Edward Lewis and Bernadette Bangura as Kit De Luca.

There’s a fair bit of Albert Square in that announcement. Molly is known to EastEnders viewers as Anna Knight, while Danny played Keanu Taylor. Hopefully, they’ll find this particular romance involves fewer confrontations outside the Queen Vic.

Molly will be making her stage debut as Vivian, bringing a background spanning acting, singing and presenting. Younger viewers may recognise her as the title character in CBBC’s Nova Jones, while her competition credentials include reaching the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 and Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.

She also competed in Celebrity Race Across the World with her partner Tyler West. Between that and Strictly, she’s had useful preparation for learning choreography while living out of a suitcase.

Danny’s television work also includes Tiger Dyke in Benidorm, alongside appearances in Call the Midwife and Our World War. His theatre credits include The Greater Game at Southwark Playhouse and Spring Awakening at Brighton Pavilion.

As Edward Lewis, he’ll be stepping into the world of a wealthy businessman. I imagine his character’s approach to shopping differs slightly from mine, which generally begins with locating the reduced rail and ends with declaring that nobody needs to know.

Joining them as Vivian’s friend Kit is Bernadette Bangura, who recently starred as Becky in the UK and Ireland tour of Waitress. Her theatre credits include Moulin Rouge!, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Once On This Island, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hairspray and Sunset Boulevard.

That’s a CV with some mileage on it. I’d need a second satchel just to deliver the programmes.

For anyone wondering what to expect musically, the show features an original score by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, whose songwriting partnership gave us Summer of ’69 and Heaven. Roy Orbison and Bill Dees’ Oh, Pretty Woman also features, so there’s every chance that familiar guitar riff will be taking up residence in your head.

I’ll try to keep my own performance confined to the journey home. The bus passengers have suffered enough.

The musical has a book by the film’s director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, with direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell. His credits include Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde and Hairspray, so he certainly knows his way around a big musical number.

Dominic Shaw recreates the direction for this production. The creative team also includes scenic designer David Rockwell, with costumes by Tom Rogers based on Gregg Barnes’ original Broadway designs. Lighting comes from Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg, sound from John Shivers and hair design from Josh Marquette. Will Van Dyke provides music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations.

The wider company includes Selena Barron, Jabari Braham, Jack Campbell, Cletus Chan, Josh Crowther, Sophie Cullen, Benjamin Dawson, Sian Gentle Green, Rebecca Ibbott, Kai Cameron Jay, Callum Martin, Brogan McFarlane, LJ Neilson, Matthew Prime, Alana M Robinson, Roshaan Saulnier, Morgan Scott, Ellie Seaton, Sario Solomon, Tomas Wolstenholme and Tara Yasmin. Further casting is still to be announced.

Since its world premiere in Chicago in 2018, Pretty Woman: The Musical has travelled to Broadway, Hamburg and London’s West End, as well as touring. Its first UK and Ireland tour began in October 2023, following a West End run at the Piccadilly and Savoy theatres.

Now Sunderland gets its turn to welcome the romance, rock score and glamour. I’ll supply the handbag. Hollywood can supply the wardrobe budget.

Pretty Woman: The Musical plays Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 29 June to Saturday 3 July 2027. Tickets are available through ATG Tickets. A transaction fee may apply to online bookings.

Check your diaries, villagers. Mine currently says “Hollywood glamour”, followed by “remember where you parked”. Even a grand night out requires a little practical planning.