Date issued: 6 March 2024
Colchester Events and Stage Right Entertainment have announced the star-studded headline cast for ‘ELF - THE MUSICAL’ - the festive blockbuster coming to Colchester’s Charter Hall on a 36-show run from 14 December 2024.
Colchester Events and Stage Right Entertainment have announced the star-studded headline cast for ‘ELF - THE MUSICAL’ - the festive blockbuster coming to Colchester’s Charter Hall on a 36-show run from 14 December 2024.
Buddy the Elf, the eccentric human raised by Santa's elves, will be performed by Essex’s own Jake Quickenden. The actor, singer and X-Factor contestant is best known for winning the 2018 ‘Dancing on Ice’ and becoming runner-up in the 2014 ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’.
Originally from Scunthorpe, Jake now lives close to Colchester in Boxted, Essex. His TV appearances include a role in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks and he has performed in numerous stage productions such as Hair The Musical, Footloose and The Full Monty.
Jake said: “I’m a massive fan of Elf and especially Buddy - it’s a great role to release my inner child! This will be an incredible show and something the whole audience will remember as a special time.”
Jovie, the unenthusiastic Department Store worker who captures Buddy’s heart, will be played by Ipswich’s very own Jade Mayjean. The singer/songwriter found fame in her early 20s on BBC’s The Voice where she secured Kylie Minogue as her mentor and performed to millions of national TV viewers week after week. Jade went on to release her album 20Sixty.
Jade said: “Ever since I can remember I have been singing and I love the stage. I’m so looking forward to Colchester’s production of Elf and just cannot wait to get started.”
Distinguished actor of TV and stage, Gary Turner, will take the role of Walter Hobbs, the cynical business executive who is revealed as Buddy's biological father. Gary is best known for his role as the good-looking chef, Carlos Diaz in ITV’s Emmerdale, which he played from 2000 to 2004. The 55-year-old has since starred in a variety of TV, film and stage roles from including Sy Spector in ‘Bodyguard the Musical’ and Errol Flynn in ‘A Question of Errol Flynn’.
Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International, more cast members will be announced in the coming weeks.
David Marsh, Events Manager at Colchester Events said: “What a belter of a show we have lined-up! Jake and Jade’s impressive performances have already wowed the likes of Simon Cowell, Kylie Minogue and Tom Jones, so we’re sure audiences from across the region are going to be bowled over by the singing, dancing and acting of all three performers in this fabulous, festive production that’s not to be missed!”
ELF-THE MUSICAL is based on the book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin; with music by Matthew Sklar and song lyrics by Chad Beguelin. The show is based on the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum which starred Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel and James Caan as Elf, Jovie and Walter.
It tells the hilarious tale of Buddy, who, as a baby, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and grows up in the North Pole. Raised as an elf and never quite fitting in, when Santa tells him the truth of his birth father, Buddy sets out to New York for a family reunion to remember.
ELF-THE MUSICAL takes place at Charter Hall, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester CO1 1YH from Saturday 14 December 2024 with matinees and evening performances.
Page last reviewed: 7 March 2024