The world premiere of a new play, The Gap, is coming to Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre next month.
By award-winning playwright Jim Cartright and directed by Anthony Banks, the production stars Matthew Kelly and Denise Welch, and will play for a limited run at Hope Mill Theatre from February 9 to March 9, 2024.
The Gap delves into the audacious adventures of Walter and Corral. He’s back up north, she’s still down south. They haven’t seen each other for 50 years, not since their Soho days, back in the swinging ’60s.
However, a chance phone call reunites them for one magical night and in next to no time, they’re back to their old tricks.
In the role of Walter, Matthew Kelly is one of the UK’s most beloved stars of stage and screen. His West End theatre credits include the original Stanley in Funny Peculiar (Mermaid Theatre) – a role he created originally at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre – and Waiting For Godot with Ian McKellen and Roger Rees (Haymarket Theatre).
Not to mention, his appearance in Tim Firth’s Sign of the Times the musical (Duchess Theatre), Lend Me A Tenor! (Gielgud Theatre), and his performance as Lennie in Of Mice and Men (Savoy Theatre) for which he won an Olivier Award for Best Actor.
Renowned actress Denise Welch will be playing Corral in The Gap. Soon to be starring in Diana: The Musical at The Eventim Apollo this December, her other theatre credits include the 2018 UK tour of Calendar Girls the Musical, and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (The Royal Exchange Theatre).
Alongside her decade-spanning acting career, Denise has been a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women since 2001.
Jim Cartwright and Anthony Banks said: “It’s great to be collaborating again after our work on Mobile Phone Show in 2013 and Raz in 2016. We’re looking forward to Denise and Matthew bringing these characters to life – two extraordinary lives lived across half a century of changes.”
Matthew Kelly said: “Dear Manchester, I’m coming home and I can’t think of a better excuse to return than with actress Denise Welch and playwright Jim Cartwright. Denise and I are to star in the world premiere of Jim’s brand new play, The Gap, at Manchester’s premier theatre, Hope Mill.
“It’s a funny, moving, exquisitely crafted play that will show off the superb talents of Denise Welch and I shall be showing off beside her all the way. Anthony Banks will direct. It’s a top team embarking on a top project at a top venue. I couldn’t be more thrilled and excited. I’d love it if you could come and share it. Sincerely, Matthew Kelly off the telly.”
Denise Welch added: “I am so excited to be returning to my first love, theatre, working alongside the fantastic team at Hope Mill Theatre. To play opposite Matthew Kelly in a new Jim Cartwright play is a dream come true. I hope you’ll all come and see what I hope will be a great production.”
Tickets for The Gap are on sale now. To book yours, or to find out more, visit the website.
