Full casting announced for The Life at the Southwark Playhouse

Full cast announced alongside Sharon D Clarke.

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming London debut of The Life directed by the show's original Broadway director, Michael Blakemore, which runs at the Southwark Playhouse from 25 March to 29 April 2017, with and official opening on 29 March.

Joining the previously announced Sharon D. Clarke as Sonja and Cornell S. John as Memphis will be John Addison (Jojo), David Albury (Fleetwood), Jalisa Andrews (Chichi), Matthew Caputo (Oddjob), Lawrence Carmichael (Snickers), Omari Douglas (Slick), Aisha Jawando (Carmen), Thomas-Lee Kidd (Bobby), Charlotte Reavey (April), Jo Servi (Lacy), Lucinda Shaw (Tracy), Johnathan Tweedie (Theodore), T'Shan Williams (Queen) and Joanna Woodward (Mary).

Featuring a score by Cy Coleman, the musical is based on an original idea by lyricist Ira Gasman and features a book by Coleman, Gasman and David Newman with book revisions for this production by Michael Blakemore.

"A thrilling exposé of the darker side of 1980's New York, The Life is a defiant and heartfelt musical about Times Square before it was cleaned up. A world of pimps and prostitutes, innocents and opportunists, it's a gutsy and gritty joyride filled with both pathos and fun."

The original Broadway production opened on 26 April 1997 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York where it went on to receive 12 Tony Award nominations. This new production is produced by Amy Anzel, Matt Chisling, and Catherine Schreiber, with set and costume designs by Justin Nardella, choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves, projection designs by Nina Dunn, lighting by David Howe, sound design by Sebastian Frost and musical direction by Tamara Saringer.

Tickets for the production are now on sale.