My Fair Lady musical coming back to Manchester - with EastEnders icon in leading role

Hit West End musical My Fair Lady is making an eagerly-awaited return to Manchester with a new tour. The lavish new production has kicked off in Dublin this week, and will head to Manchester's Palace Theatre in May 2023.

The show follows the exploits of Cockney flower girl Eliza Dolittle, played by Charlotte Kennedy, and will see EastEnders icon Adam Woodyatt in one of the leading roles as Eliza's dustman dad Alfred P Doolittle. It has been some years since the musical was last performed here in Manchester, making it an eagerly-awaited return for theatre fans.

The musical tells the story of Eliza who is taken under the wing of Henry Higgins (Michael D. Xavier), a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady”. But as the story unfolds the audiences is invited to wonder who is really being transformed?

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EastEnders star Adam is making his big return to musical theatre for the first time since 1980 and has spoken of his excitement at joining the new tour. He left the BBC soap as Ian Beale on an "extended break" in 2021 and has said there are no current plans to return.

Playing the character of lovably layabout Alfred P Doolittle will give Adam the chance to show off his musical chops in two of the show's most famous songs - With a Little Bit of Luck and Get Me To The Church On Time.

Bartlett Sher’s critically acclaimed and multi award-winning production of Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady is heading on tour fresh from rave reviews on the West End at London's Palladium Theatre. The touring cast also including Heather Jackson as Mrs Higgins, John Middleton as Colonel