If you enjoyed the classic Dreamworks movie, you’re absolutely going to love the stage version of MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL, which opens at Wales Millennium Centre today.
All our favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends are they as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York’s Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends – Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo – have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape – with the help of some prodigious penguins – to explore the world.
Playing the role of the hilarious King Julien is TV, theatre and of course Strictly favourite KARIM ZEROUAL.
Karim Zeroual is best known for anchoring CBBC and reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2019. In television he has hosted BBC’s Young Dancer of the Year and BBC Four’s Dance Passion as well as fronting events with the BBC National Orchestra. In 2020, he presented BBC Bitesize, educating the nation’s children during lockdown.
He could also be seen on in numerous TV shows, including EastEnders, Da Vinci’s Demons and The Sparticle Mystery, alongside reality shows including Celebrity Best Home Cook on BBC One and Celebs Go Dating. No stranger to the stage, Karim’s West End performances include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Lion King and Here Come The Boys.
We spoke to Karim on one of his rare days off, where he was at home – sorting out the house (as he told us). We had plenty to talk about, Strictly, touring with some of the best dancers in the country and his love of performing in South Wales…..
Joining Karim on stage will be Laura Marie Benson (Kowalski), Francisco Gomes (Marty), Aidan Harkins (Swing), Joseph Hewlett (Alex), James Hilton (Ensemble), Gabriel Hinchliffe (Swing), Ella Howlett (Rico), Connor Keetley (Skipper/ Maurice), Brogan McFarlane (Private/ Mort), Joshua Oakes-Rogers (Melman) and Jarneia Richard-Noel (Gloria).
This wacky adventure for the whole family is brought to life as a co-production with Theatre Royal Plymouth and Selladoor Worldwide, the producers behind Guess How Much I Love You, Mr Men and Little Miss, Footloose and Fame, who toured Madagascar the Musical to huge Critical acclaim in 2018/2019.
Madagascar The Musical is directed by award-winning Kirk Jameson with choreography from Fabian Aloise with Musical Supervision from Mark Crossland, Puppet Design by Max Humphries and Puppet Direction from Emma Brunton. It is based on original set designs by Tom Rogers.
Stuart Glover Creative Producer of Madagascar for Selladoor told us….
“We are delighted that Karim and this sensational cast will be joining us for the tour of Madagascar. We know our audiences are going to go wild for this perfect treat for the whole family”
James Mackenzie-Blackman, CEO & Executive Producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth said……
“All of us at TRP are thrilled to be co-producing this fantastic family musical. Karim will be the perfect King Julien and we can’t wait to welcome the company to Plymouth.”
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, you’ll have no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”
MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL gets to Wales Millennium Centre this month from today (27th) through to 30th June. Only six performances in the capital, so once again you’ll need to be quick to get the seats you’d like. For more details and tickets, go HERE.
