Guys and Dolls to transfer to the Phoenix Theatre

The Chichester Festival Theatre's revival of Guys and Dolls will transfer from the Savoy Theatre in London's West End to the Phoenix Theatre, following the early closure of 'Bend it Like Beckham'.

The production closes at the Savoy Theatre on 12 March 2016 to make way for the West End transfer of Funny Girl, and will reopen at the Phoenix Theatre on 19 March 2016, where it is booking to 30 October 2016. A UK tour of the production also begins performances from 16 March 2016 nationwide.

At the Phoenix Theatre, the production will play an altered performance schedule with four matinees, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and a Sunday performance. There will be no evening performances on Monday or Tuesday.

Guys and Dolls opened at London's Savoy Theatre on 6 January 2016, following previews from 10 December 2015, for a thirteen week limited run which is booking to 12 March 2016.

Casting for the Savoy production currently includes Sophie Thompson as Miss Adelaide, Jamie Parker as Sky Masterson, David Haig as Nathan Detroit and Siubhan Harrison as Sarah Brown. No casting has yet been confirmed for the production at the Phoenix Theatre.

The show is based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

"Nathan Detroit is desperate: he needs money for an illegal dice game, and he needs it fast. Not to mention a 14 year engagement with night-club singer Miss Adelaide whose patience is finally running out. Enter notorious gambler Sky Masterson, a guy who can never turn down a bet, and straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown, a doll with a heart of ice. The wager: Sky has to romance Sarah by taking her to Havana for dinner and in return he'll provide a dozen 'sinners' for Sarah's mission. Surely this is one bet Nathan absolutely can't lose?"

Gordon Greenberg directs, with choreography by Carlos Acosta and Andrew Wright, set design by Peter McKintosh, lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by Paul Groothuis. The musical director is Gareth Valentine.

The musical first premiered on Broadway in 1950 and features some of Broadway's greatest musical numbers including 'My Time of Day', 'Luck be a Lady' and the show-stopping 'Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat'. It is based on the colourful stories by American journalist Damon Runyon, who was known for his vivid fictional depictions of the gamblers, hustlers and nightclub singers of New York.

Guys and Dolls is produced in the West End by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Oliver Royds for BOS Productions, Richard Darbourne Ltd and Tulchin Bartner Productions.