ROCK OF AGES THE MUSICAL has announced the full cast line up. The show based on the greatest rock hitos of the 80’s will begin previews at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre on 31st August and will open officially on 27th September 2011.

The roles of the boy and the small-town girl, Drew and Sherrie, who meet, fall in love, loose each other then struggle to fight for their love, will be taken by West End stars Oliver Tompsett and Amy Pemberton. This roles were originated on Broadway by Constantine Maroulis and Amy Spanger.

Oliver Tompsett is best known for playing the role of Fiyero in the West End production of WICKED for three years and a half. His other West End credits include MAMMA MIA! and OUR HOUSE . Other theatre credits include ‘The Royal Hunt of the Sun’ (NT) and KISMET (Arcola). He released his debut album ‘Sentimental Heart’ in 2008.

In a press statement Oliver Tompsett says: “Growing up listening to 80´s Power Ballads on VH1, I used to dream about combining 80´s rock songs with musical comedy, but someone beat me to it. Rock of Ages - the Musical is way better than what I dreamt of, and you know what they say – ‘If you can’t beat them, join them!’”

Amy Pemberton’s West End credits include FOOTLOOSE and JERSEY BOYS, where she originated the role of Lorraine. Other theatre credits include IN TOUCH (Trafalgar Studios) and SUNBURNT (New Theatre Hampstead).

They will be joined by Simon Lipkin (AVENUE Q, SPAMALOT UK Tour) as the wise-cracking narrator Lonny and Shayne Ward (X-Factor 2005) as Stacee Jaxx, as well as by the previously announced Justin Lee Collins as Dennis Dupree.

The cast is completed by Rohan Tickell, Rachel McFarlane, Jodie Jacobs, Sandy Moffatt, Nathan Amzi, Natalie Andreou, Grant Anthony, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Cordelia Farnworth, Ian McIntosh, Twinnie-Lee Moore, Jamie Muscato, Andrew Spillett, Zizi Strallen, Amy Thornton and Dylan Turner.

Also, members of the cast will be previewing the show at London’s West End Live event in Trafalgar Square this coming weekend, 18th and 19th June. The performances will be on Saturday – 2.55pm & 3.55pm and again on Sunday – 1.35pm & 3.35pm.

Five times nominated for the prestigious Tony Awards in 2009 (including Best Musical), ROCK OF AGES is a celebration of Los Angeles rock culture, with a great story to boot. Set in 1987, a small town girl meets a big city rocker in LA’s most famous rock club and they fall in love to some of the greatest songs of the decade.

The film of the musical, directed by Adam Shankman (HAIRSPRAY), has started filming, for release in 2012.