Music & Lyrics is delighted to announce a national tour of Leicester Curve’s acclaimed production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s smash-hit musical THE KING AND I, opening at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 17 December 2011, with previews from 14 December 2011. Full tour schedule attached. Ramon Tikaram will play the role of The King and Josefina Gabrielle will play the role of Anna.

Ramon Tikaram is a stage and screen actor who is probably best known as Ferdy in the BBC drama ‘This Life’, and can currently be seen playing Qadim in ‘EastEnders’. His other TV credits include ‘Casualty’, ‘Primeval’, ‘Wiired’ and ‘The Mighty Boosh’. Ramon’s West End theatre credits include BOMBAY DREAMS, Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Gaddafi in ‘Gaddafi – A Living Myth’ at English National Opera, Genie in ALADDIN at the Old Vic Theatre and Rama in ‘Ramayana’ at the National Theatre.

Josefina Gabrielle is a double Olivier Award-nominated stage and screen actress, whose career spans the West End and Broadway. Josefina most famously starred alongside Hugh Jackman in Trevor Nunn’s iconic National Theatre production of OKLAHOMA!, receiving an Olivier Award-nomination for ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ for her performance. She later starred in the same production when it transferred to the West End and Broadway. Most recently in the West End Josefina has played Lily in ‘Park Avenue Cat’, Nicky/Ursula in SWEET CHARITY, Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret in ‘The 39 Steps’, Roxie Hart in CHICAGO, Alex Spofford in THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK and Iris in the original cast of FAME. Her many other stage credits include Irene in HELLO DOLLY at Regent’s Park, Cathy in SINGIN´ IN THE RAIN at Sadler’s Wells, Cassie in A CHORUS LINE at Sheffield Crucible, Dot in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Leicester Haymarket and CAROUSEL at the National Theatre.

The cast also features Claire-Marie Hall as ‘Tup-Tim’, Adrian Li Donni as ‘Lun-tha’, Maya Sapone as ‘Lady Thiang’, Nicholas Goh as ‘Kralahome’, and Gary Wood as ‘Prince Choulalonghorn’. The rest of the cast includes Craig Turbyfield, Rowan Lewis Mitchell, Aiko Kato, Makato Leahy, Charlotte Humphrey, Naomi Bailie, Farrah Hussain, Kaho Uchida, Misa Koide, Adam Denman, Matthew Cheney, Lori Hayley Fox, and Yuki Ikezawa.

The UK Tour of THE KING AND I will run in Edinburgh until the 7 January 2012 and, afterwards, the tour will be visiting the next venues: Llandudno Venue Cymru (10 to 14 January 2012), Sheffield Lyceum (17 to 21 January 2012), Newcastle Theatre Royal (24 to 28 January 2012), Belfast Grand Opera House (31 January to 4 February 2012), Northampton Royal & Derngate (7 to 11 February 2012), New Theatre Oxford (14 to 18 February 2012), The Lowry Salford (21 to 25 February 2012), Nottingham Theatre Royal (28 February to 3 March 2012), Cheltenham Everyman Theatre (6 to 10 March 2012), Cardiff New Theatre (13 to 17 March 2012), Southampton Mayflower (20 to 24 March 2012), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (27 to 31 March 2012), Liverpool Empire Theatre (3 to 7 April 2012), Plymouth Theatre Royal (10 to 14 April 2012), Woking New Victoria Theatre (24 to 28 April 2012), Birmingham Hippodrome (1 to 5 May 2012), Leicester Curve (8 to 12 May 2012), Bradford Alhambra (15 to 19 May 2012) y Dublin Grand Canal Theatre (22 to 26 May 2012).

THE KING AND I tells the heart-warming story of the British governess brought to the court of Siam to tutor the King’s many children, told using one of the most beautiful scores ever written with sweeping melodies such as “Shall We Dance”, “I Whistle A Happy Tune”, “Hello Young Lovers”, “The March of the Siamese Children” and the unforgettable “Getting To Know You”.

This breathtaking new production from Leicester Curve, directed by Paul Kerryson, is a lavish, grand-scale spectacle with giant gold Buddhas, sumptuous costumes, a chorus of adorable children, acrobatic dancers and a ten-piece orchestra.

THE KING AND I is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time. Seen by millions of people across the world since it was first performed in 1951, when it was showered with awards and became the blockbuster Hollywood movie, its glorious soundtrack is still a bestseller today.

THE KING AND I is directed by Paul Kerryson, with choreography by David Needham and musical direction by Julian Kelly. Designed by Sara Perks with lighting design by Philip Gladwell and sound design by Ben Harrison. It has original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and new orchestrations by Julian Kelly. The King and I is based on the novel ‘Anna and the King Of Siam’ by Margaret Landon, and is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of R&H Theatricals of New York.

THE KING AND I is produced by John Stalker for and on behalf of Music and Lyrics Limited, a new nationwide consortium comprised of the UK’s major independent touring theatres. It aims to champion musical theatre in all its forms and provide extended life to productions created by the UK’s major producing theatres. For The King and I, Music and Lyrics has received generous financial support from Arts Council England to support a major audience development project aimed at young audiences and non-traditional theatres goers.