Norman Pace, Brenda Edwards, Layton Williams and more announced for Hairspray in Wolverhampton

Norman Pace will play Wilbur Turnblad. He will be joined by Matt Rixon (reprising his role as Edna Turnblad, musical theatre star Brenda Edwards is returning as Motormouth Maybelle and Layton Williams will now starring as Seaweed.

Gina Murray joins the cast as Velma Von Tussle with Jon Tsouras once again playing Corny Collins; Edward Chitticks will star as Link Larkin; Aimee Moore as Amber Von Tussle; Annalise Liard-Bailey as Penny Pingleton and Monifa James as Little Inez. Rebecca Mendoza will make her professional debut as Tracy Turnblad.

Full cast includes: Lauren Concannon, Melissa Nettleford and Emily-Mae Walker as The Dynamites, Shay Barclay, Ben Darcy, George Hinson, Jordan Laviniere, Graham MacDuff, Lindsay McAllister, Tracey Penn and Freya Rowley.

The show features the iconic music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, this big, bold and beautiful production is choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Drew McOnie with direction from Paul Kerryson.

The show follows the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, on her mission to follow her dreams and dance her way to success on national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way.

Norman Pace is an award-winning comedian and actor who is widely recognized and beloved as half of the comedy duo, Hale & Pace. Pace most recently appeared in One Man Two Guvnors and The Rocky Horror Show. His other credits include Honk, A Slice of Saturday, Satin & Steel, Breakfast with Johnny Wilkinson and Much Ado About Nothing among others.

Brenda Edwards shot to fame when she entered The X Factor in 2005. Since then, Brenda has gone on to grace the stage in; Chicago, Cameron Jones, Galt MacDermot’s Human Comedy and We Will Rock You. Brenda has made special guest appearances at the Brixton Academy, Cardiff Millennium Stadium at BBC radio 2 with the BBC Concert Orchestra, she has also had the honour of supporting Smokey Robinson and Alexander O’Neil at Rochester Castle, with her 11 piece band.

Gina Murray trained at Redroofs Theatre School. She recently returned to the role of Mama Morton in Chicago on the UK National Tour and in Singapore, having played her in the West End at the Cambridge Theatre in 2008 and then again, in 2009, and also on the China Tour. Other key theatre credits include; The Full Monty, Fame, The Roy Orbison Story and One Touch of Venus, Broken Journey. Gina appeared in Alex Jovy’s feature film Sorted (and the follow up feature The Flirting Club. Television credits include; Here Comes Treble, Witless, Doctors, Eastenders, Judge John Deed, Teenage Kicks and The Bill.

Layton Williams began his career at the age of 12 securing himself the title role of Billy in London's Billy Elliot. Layton then made his debut TV appearance as Kylie in Beautiful People. He attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts which was documented on School For Stars. His most recent credits include Bad Education, The Bad Education Movie, Thriller Live, Rent, Hairspray, The Car Man and Lord of the Flies.

Press & PR Manager at the Grand Theatre Scott Bird said; “Hairspray is the huge-hearted hit that is guaranteed to leave audiences dancing in their seats. It will be wonderful to have local Dudley-born actor Norman Pace back alongside Layton Williams and one of X Factor’s most successful finalists Brenda Edwards who has built up an impressive theatre career.”

Tickets for Hairspray between February 26 and March 3 are now on sale at the Grand Theatre Box Office in person, by calling 01902 42 92 12 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk.