Casting for Mary and Bert on the tour of Mary Poppins

Zizi Strallen is playing the leading role in the new UK tour of Mary Poppins which kicks off at the Leicester Curve on 13th October. She is currently starring as Lana  in  Matthew Bourne's The Car Man.  And was most recently seen in the West End in “Cats” and the multi award-winning “Merrily We Roll Along”. Her other West End credits include “Rock of Ages”, “Dirty Dancing” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” at Sadler’s Wells.  She has also appeared in “The Music Man” at Chichester Festival Theatre, and as ‘Penny Pingleton’ in “Hairspray” at Leicester Curve.

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Disney have also cast Matt Lee as  Bert the Chimney sweep. He  played the role  when the show opened in Australia, his portrayal winning him the prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His other theatre credits in Australia include “Miss Saigon”, “The Witches of Eastwick”, “Rent”, “Grease” and “The Boy from Oz”. Matt was also a permanent member of the judging panel for Australia’s “So You Think You Can Dance”.

Strallen's sister Scarlett has played the role in London and on Broadway, which helped prepare Zizi for her audition saying:  I did feel I knew the part very well, going for the auditions. It was in me somewhere. I'm very good with children, but I'm an absolutely dreadful cook. I can make breakfast, 
though.

Cameron Mackintosh said today It’s hard to believe that it is already 11 years since Mary Poppins first landed on the London stage.  My goodness……time flies even faster than our beloved Nanny!  I’m delighted to be bringing her back to the UK and for the first time to Dublin, after spreading her magic around the world.  Since we originally staged the production we have found even more magical ways to stage this timeless tale. I’m also thrilled to have cast yet another of the extraordinarily talented Strallen family in the role of Mary and pair her with one of the most brilliant Berts we have been fortunate to find worldwide. I know Zizi and Matt will be practically perfect in every way and a show-stopping tour de force.