Cast chosen for Royal Exchange musical premiere 'Fun Home'

Fun home - l-r Alice Audrey O'Hanlon, who plays the younger Alison, Nigel Harman, who plays her father, and Jodie McNee as Alison

Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre has announced the cast for its forthcoming regional premiere production of Broadway award-winning "best musical" Fun Home (July 3-August 1), based on American cartoonist Alison Bechdel's graphic novel of the same title.

Jodie McNee

The story concerns Bechdel's discovery of her lesbian sexuality, her relationship with her closeted gay father and her attempts to unlock the mysteries surrounding his life.

Bechdel takes the audience on a journey into her childhood, remembering what it’s like to grow up in a funeral home, undergo a sexual awakening in college, and trying to make sense of the secrets at the heart of her family.

Returning to the Royal Exchange after performances in Nora: A Doll's House, The Night Watch, Orpheus Descending and A Taste Of Honey, Jodie McNee will play Alison, opposite Olivier award-winning actor Nigel Harman (Shrek, Guys and Dolls, Eastenders, Downton Abbey) as her dad Bruce.

Nigel Harman

Joining McNee and Harman will be Alice Audrey O’Hanlon, who will play "Medium" Alison, with young actresses Lillie Babb,

Felicity LJ Moore and Harriet O’Shea sharing the role of "Small" Alison.

Natasha Cottriall appears as Joan, with Alex Young as Helen Bechdel

Lucca Chadwick-Patel completes the principal cast as Roy, Bobby,

Mark and Pete.

Rated a modern masterpiece, the musical adaptation won five Tony Awards in 2016, making its UK premiere at London's Young Vic in 2018. The production will be directed by former Royal Exchange artistic director, Sarah Frankcom.

More info and tickets here