Petula Clark and Joseph Millson join cast of Mary Poppins in the West End

Further casting for the West End revival of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre set to open later in the year has been announced.

Petula Clark will return to the West End for the first time in 23 years to play the Bird Woman. Best known for her chart-topping hits including the Grammy Award-winning song "Downtown", Clark made her West End debut in 1981, playing Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music, later starring in Sunset Boulevard in 1995.

Last performing in the West End in 2017 in Apologia at the Trafalgar Studios, Joseph Millson will play Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins. The show marks Millson's first musical role in eight years, where he originated the role of Viscount Raoul de Chagny in Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre. Further theatre credits include Mr Foote's Other Leg at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and  The Rover for the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

Clark and Milson will appear in Mary Poppins alongside the previously announced Zizi Strallen in the titular role and Charlie Stemp as Bert.

Further casting is to be announced.

The story follows fictional nanny Mary Poppins as she looks after the Banks children who live on Cherry Tree Lane. The musical features Disney songs including "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", "Step in Time" and "Chim Chim Cher-ee".

The revival of Mary Poppins marks the musical's return to the West End for the first time in 11 years, last staged at the Prince Edward Theatre from 2004 to 2008.

Mary Poppins is at the Prince Edward Theatre from 23rd October.

Mary Poppins tickets are available now.