The new musical comedy Jimmy Mac will see three West End professionals join local performers Kristene Sutcliffe and Michelle Jamieson.

The show is to receive its world premiere at the Gaiety Theatre on October 10 as part of the inaugural TheatreFest15 programme with the part of Jimmy Mac played by West End star Simon Gordon.

The former finalist on Andrew Lloyd Weber’s search for a star show Superstar on ITV hit the headlines recently when 15 armed police officers swooped on the South East London home he shares with a number of other upcoming actors after a neighbour believed they had heard someone pleading for their life. The drama soon ended and there was no cause for alarm; it had just been a group of actors rehearsing for an audition, with Simon practising his lines ahead of auditioning for a role in the Carol King musical Beautiful.

The Guildford School of Acting (GSA) graduate has understudied to John Barrowman as Prince Charming in Cinderella at Glasgow’s SECC (Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre), and as Prince Naljin played the lead in the fantasy feature film Roby and the Gates of Nargara. Other credits include Danny Zuko in Grease and Mark Antony in Julius Caesar. He is also a qualified solicitor and away from the stage plays golf to a handicap of three.

Joining him from the UK will be Erin Caldwell and Victoria Mellor. Erin Caldwell trained at the Guildford School of Acting, has performed in Godspell at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End and had a central role in the BBC TV series Jess the Border Collie.

Victoria Mellor began singing at the age of 16. A singer and songwriter she has performed with her sister as The Mellor Sisters and recently sang at CarFest South run by BBC’s Chris Evans in aid of Children in Need.

The show examines the ups and downs of Jimmy Mac’s relationships with four women in his life: Sharon, (Erin Caldwell) a lonely homebody and homemaker; Chantal (Victoria Mellor), a headstrong French dancer with ambitious plans; Alice (Kristene Sutcliffe), a wealthy, opinionated woman; and Lucy, (Michelle Jamieson) a sweet-natured nurse who sees only the good in everyone.

The Jimmy Mac score is by Stuart Brayson who wrote From Here To Eternity with Sir Tim Rice.

‘If Jimmy were to describe himself,’ said Mr Brayson ‘He would answer without a shadow of a doubt: “I am a ladies man, a romantic, a sensitive soul, a poet even.”

‘The ladies in his life would, however, totally disagree. Misogynist, egotist, in fact if the word has got an 'ist' in it then it probably fits Jimmy to a tee. Jimmy's life is on trial and the women in his life are both judge and jury in this surreal, madcap, melodic, musical feast.’

The show’s director is Nigel Garton, who spent the summer directing for the Upstage Theatre Company. He recently played Kevin in Opera Della Luna’s production of The Ghosts of Ruddigore and Major Knotts in a workshop performance of Hoods the Musical directed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood. His West End credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Boyfriend and Me and My Girl and he counts Les Miserables among his film appearances.

He said: ‘To be directing Jimmy Mac with a score by Stuart Bryson is the “dream job”…even more so as we’re all in at the beginning of this new production.

‘There’s a stellar cast assembled for the show, and with this being a new musical there’s the opportunity to invest input and fine-tune the production. Jimmy Mac’s a lovable rogue and Simon Gordon’s perfect for the part; he’s got “the look” and the qualities that will make the audience see him as a likeable character.

‘We’ve only a week of rehearsals but from experience I know, if you stay focused, great things can be achieved in that time.

‘I’ve been listening to Stuart’s score and it’s amazing; I can’t get some of the numbers out of my head. No one should underestimate just how gifted Stuart is.

‘TheatreFest is a fabulous concept that’s so exciting and I’m thrilled to be part of it and this world premiere. I’m sure TheatreFest will do great things for theatre and for the Isle of Man.’

TheatreFest15 is a five-year project encouraging new work for the theatre and is a partnership between the Isle of Man Arts Council and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). Tony Gibbs, NODA’s chief executive said: ‘The Jimmy Mac cast list is a truly compelling mix of talent. Combining West End professionals with gifted artists from the Isle of Man creates a great dynamic and with the action played out to some fantastic numbers by Stuart, by the end of the show we’ll all have a very good idea of just who Jimmy Mac is.’

Mr Brayson added: ‘If you want to see a brand new musical before the West End or Broadway comes knocking, come to the Gaiety Theatre on October 10 and meet that loveable rascal Jimmy Mac.’

Jimmy Mac is at the Gaiety Theatre on Saturday October 10.
Doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
To book, visit villagaiety.com or call the ticket hotline 01624 600555.

Photo - Simon Gordon.  Courtesy of Heather Nelson.