Matthew White directing at the Menier

A curious chance meeting with Matthew White yesterday in Tottenham Court Road! Matt played Topsy in the Oxford Playhouse performance of Possessed. Matt is a wonderful actor and director and directed the very successful Little Shop of Horrors production staged at the Menier in 2006 and subsequently transferred to the West End's Duke of York's and New Ambassadors Theatres, and has recently been on a national tour. The production was choreographed by Stephen Mears (2007 Tony nominee for Best Choreography for Mary Poppins which he co-choreographed with Matthew Bourne, and currently also represented on Broadway by his choreography for The Little Mermaid).

Matt is going to be directing a revival of the1966 Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields and Neil Simon musical Sweet Charity at the Menier as its Christmas musical running from 21st November 2009 to 7th March 2010. Former Eastenders star Tamzin Outhwaite is on board to play the title character of Charity Hope Valentine, created on Broadway by Gwen Verdon and subsequently in the 1969 film version by Shirley MacLaine.