Andy Coxon has been cast in the iconic role of Berger, in the new 50th anniversary production of HAIR...

Rock musical HAIR opens at London’s fully immersive Off-West-End theatre, The Vaults, from Wednesday 4 October 2017 and is now to run to Saturday 13 January 2018.

The genuinely youthful cast will bring the original protest musical to life, in the intimate theatre seating just 200, revealing every emotion up close and personal through HAIR's drug fuelled journey.

Andy Coxon (Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Les Misérables – West End) is currently starring as Mitch in the acclaimed London production of Yank! (Charing Cross Theatre.)

The cast for this thrilling, young and moving production of HAIR is: DANIEL BAILEY (Motown The Musical – Shaftesbury Theatre, The Lion King – Lyceum Theatre), Berger - ANDY COXON (Mitch in Yank! - Charing Cross Theatre), ADAM DAWSON (Jet in West Side Story RSC Live – Stratford), Margaret Mead - PATRICK GEORGE (Cats – UK tour), Hud - JAMMY KASONGO (Beautiful The Carole King Musical – Aldwych), Jeanie - JESSIE MAY (Fiona in Blondel – The New Union Theatre, Rock Of Ages – UK tour). Returning to the production from the acclaimed Manchester run are: Cassie - NATALIE GREEN (Wicked – UK tour), Sheila - LAURA JOHNSON (Rizzo in Grease – UK tour), Dionne - SHEKINA MCFARLANE (Parade – Hope Mill Theatre, The Lion King – UK & International tour), Claude - ROBERT METSON (Ryan in Bear - Southwark Playhouse), Woof - LIAM ROSS-MILLS (Les Misérables – West End, Ben in Ushers: The Front of House Musical - Charing Cross Theatre), Mary - KORYANN STEVENS (West Side Story – Live Nation) and Chrissy - KIRSTEN WRIGHT (Our Seasons End - The AC Group).

HAIR changed the face of musical theatre and is still ground-breaking at the age of 50. HAIR opened off-Broadway in 1967, and to open this genuinely new production off-West-End in 2017 is the perfect move for Hope Mill Theatre’s acclaimed production, directed by Jonathan O’Boyle - as relevant now as it was in the 60s.

1967 and HAIR‘s hippie-hood youngsters live as The Tribe, in the East Village of New York: yearning to change the world, questioning authority and the American flag. They are wild, colourful, free, sexually liberated beautiful people who join in protest and song - under the shadow of the Vietnam War. Featuring classic hit songs: Aquarius, Let the Sun Shine In and Good Morning Star Shine - and the story of youth and war still resounds throughout the world making this a topical musical for the millennial generation. 2017 vividly sees the world protesting and marching, fighting for freedom of speech; from Trump to Brexit via Syria – the core spirit of HAIR.

Like a mini Woodstock, from the moment the audience arrive, The Vaults is transformed into a fully immersive 60s venue, with psychedelic, innovative creatives, iconic artwork and hippie flower power. With a 60s themed pop up restaurant and themed drinks; plus stalls including: vintage 60s and tie dye clothes, 60s smiley badges and memorabilia, hippie wigs and flower headdresses, vinyl’s – everything needed for a legal high. The audience then move through to the theatre space for HAIR - the musical that changed the face of the modern musical.

HAIR - book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, music by Galt MacDermot. Produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Ollie Rosenblatt for Senbla, Joseph Houston and William Whelton for Hope Mill Theatre and Associate Producers Guy James and Joe Brown. Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (Ass. Director An American In Paris – Dominion, Ass. Director The Scottsboro Boys - Young Vic & West End, The Judas Kiss - Toronto & New York, This House - West End, Bull - Young Vic, Pippin – Hope Mill Theatre); Musical Director - Gareth Bretherton (The Verb, To Love - Old Red Lion, Seasons of Larson - Lyric Theatre); Choreographer - William Whelton (Our House - Union Theatre); Set & Costume Designer - Maeve Black (Adam & Eve…and Steve - Kings Head Theatre); Sound - Max Perryment (Start Swimming - Young Vic) & Chris Bogg (Yank! The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre); Lighting Designer - Ben M Rogers (Jesus Christ Superstar - Scandinavian Tour) and Casting Director - Ben Newsome.

COME JOIN THE TRIBE – HAIR.

See below for full listings information…….

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT, SENBLA and HOPE MILL THEATRE Present

HAIR 50th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION

COME JOIN THE TRIBE – HAIR The 50th Anniversary production of HAIR transfers to London from its critically acclaimed run at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester.

VENUE: THE VAULTS (7AD, Leake St, London SE1 7NN)

PERFORMANCES: WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER 2017 – SATURDAY 13 JANUARY 2018 PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE FOR FINAL PERFORMANCE NOW BEING 13/01/18. Previews: Wednesday 4/10 7.30pm, Thursday 5/10 3pm & 7.30pm, Friday 6/10 7.30pm, Saturday 7/10 7pm & 10pm and Monday 9/10 7.30pm.

PRESS NIGHT: WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2017 at 7.30pm

Post press night performances: TUESDAY to SUNDAY (no performances on a Monday) Tuesday – 7.30pm Wednesday – 7.30pm Thursday – 3pm & 7.30pm Friday – 7.30pm Saturday – 7pm & 10pm New Saturday timings from 05/12/17 = 3pm & 7.30pm Please note: Saturday show time changes to 3pm & 7.30pm in new booking period from 05/12/17-14/01/18 Sunday – 3pm

FESTIVE PERIOD PERFORMANCES AND TIMES STAY THE SAME

TICKET PRICES: £25 - £50 Age recommendation: 14+ (this show contains nudity)

BOX OFFICE: 020 7401 9603 WEBSITE: www.hair50.com TWITTER: @Hair50London

HAIR Hope Mill Theatre production 2016 The Reviews Hub: ‘Stunning’ North West End: ‘Astounding’ The Guardian: 'Sweetly enticing' - Lyn Gardner The Stage: 'Thrilling! Jonathan O'Boyle's production left me walking on air' - Mark Shenton Northern Soul Musical Theatre Review. Notes to Editors below:

Aria Entertainment - www.aria-entertainment.com Aria Entertainment was founded in 2012 by Katy Lipson. Katy has just been awarded the Best Producer award by the Off West End Awards and is a recipient of the Stage One Bursary and Start Up Award. Katy is currently lead producer on the UK Tour of The Addams Family and the 50th Anniversary production of Hair (London Vaults), which she originally co-produced with Hope Mill Theatre in 2016 - where she is Resident Producer and co-artistic director for in-house productions. She is also producing new musical The Toxic Avenger (The Arts Theatre, West End) post a run at The Edinburgh Festival's Pleasance Theatre and new musical Yank! (The Charing Cross Theatre). Recent productions include: tick, tick...BOOM! (Park Theatre); Yank!, Parade and Hair (Hope Mill Theatre); Promises, Promises and The Toxic Avenger (Southwark Playhouse); Vanities The Musical (Trafalgar Studios); See What I Wanna See and The Return Of The Soldier (Jermyn Street Theatre); Bar Mitzvah Boy (The Gatehouse); The Adventures of Pinocchio, Lizzie and The Who's Tommy (Greenwich Theatre), The House of Mirrors & Hearts supported by Grant For The Arts (Arcola Theatre) and Marry Me A Little, Jerry’s Girls and Forever Plaid (St James Studio). Katy is proud to have launched her annual From Page To Stage season of new musicals in 2014. Showcasing over 8 new musicals each year, the project was supported by Grant For The Arts in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The 2017 will take place this August at Andrew Lloyd-Webber's recently acquired theatre The Other Palace and is sponsored by RUG, TRW and RnH. Other current projects include: Pippin and Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre).

Senbla – www.senbla.com Founded by Ollie Rosenblatt, Senbla is a London a based concert promoting and production company, promoting shows and national tours throughout various venues in the UK. Their pure entertainment productions include: The Godfather Live in Concert (London Palladium), Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone in concert throughout UK and Ireland Arenas, Procol Harum tour, The Jungle Book film with live orchestra, Burt Bacharach UK tours, Nigel Kennedy UK tours, Tony Bennett, En Vogue, Itzhak Perlman, Marc Almond UK Tour, multi artist TV and Live Concerts: Don Black: A Life in Song, Tim Rice: A Life In Song, Burt Bacharach: A Life In Song. Senbla also works with artists Ron Sexsmith, Shaun Escoffery, Joss Stone, Petula Clark, David Arnold and many others as well as musicals in concert How To Success In Business Without Really Trying, Peter Pan, Of Thee I Sing, and in full production Promises, Promises (Southwark Playhouse.)

Hope Mill Theatre - www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk Hope Mill Theatre is situated in the Grade II Listed Hope Mill, a former cotton mill in the heart of Manchester. This 5-storey mill is home to a number of creatives’ studios including writers, artists and designers and now home to the award winning Hope Mill Theatre, a 120-seat fringe venue and events space, with the Engine Room Café and Bar. Hope Mill Theatre was the dream of couple Joseph Houston and William Whelton and opened in 2015. After a career in theatre and time spent living in London, they were inspired by the highly regarded Off West End Theatres and smaller producing venues which dominate the London theatre scene. With this in mind and with the growing number of creatives living in Manchester and the ever evolving theatre culture, they set out to bring a brand new theatre experience to the people of Manchester. In 2016, Hope Mill Theatre won the prestigious h.Club100 Theatre & Performance Award.

For further information, press tickets, interviews please contact: Deborah Goodman at DGPR on publicity@dgpr.co.uk or +44 (0)208 959 9980