Amanda Holden to lead revival of Stepping Out tour directed by Maria Friedman

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden is to lead revival of Richard Harris's 1984 play Stepping Out It will be directed by Maria Friedman and  is set to open at the Theatre Royal Bath Theatre Royal Bath from  12th – 22nd October followed by Richmond Theatre (24-29 October) and Cambridge Arts Theatre (w/c 31 October) (with an additional date to be announced).

"I know how to tap badly, which is most important for Stepping Out" and its inexperienced  dancing characters, Holden told the Mail. The play is about a  group of eight people  from very different backgrounds who attend the same tap dance class in North London each week. Holden will take on the role of 'Vera', described as "a perfectionist who hides a secret about her private life." Her friends Angela Griffin and Nicola Stephenson will also appear in the production with further casting to be announced.

Angela Griffin appeared in ‘Coronation Street’ from 1993 to 1998. Subsequently, she joined the original cast of the BBC medical drama series ‘Holby City’. She has also appeared in the BBC dramas ‘Cutting It’, ‘Down to Earth’, ‘Waterloo Road’ and ‘Lewis’. From November 2009 to July 2010, Griffin hosted her own live daytime show on Sky1 called ‘Angela and Friends’. Her theatre credits include Dolly in One Man, Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2013 and Caroline in Breeders at the St James Theatre in 2014.

 Nicola Stephenson's television credits include Margaret Clemence in Channel 4's ‘Brookside’; ITV's ‘Christmas Lights’/’Northern Lights’/’City Lights’, ‘Safehouse’ and ‘Emmerdale’; BBC's ‘Holby City’, ‘Clocking Off’, ‘The Chase’ and ‘All at Sea’. In 2012, Nicola played Louise, a series lead in the ITV drama ‘Homefront’ and in 2014 she joined the regular cast of ‘Waterloo Road’ for 11 episodes. Her theatre roles include A Patriot for Me at the Royal Shakespeare Company, His Girl Friday and Edmund at the National Theatre, and War Horse at the New London Theatre.

Maria Friedman is best known as a four-time Olivier Award-winning star of the musical stage. She has played Dot in Sunday in the Park with George at the National Theatre, Fosca in Passion at the Queen’s Theatre, Mrs Lovett in Sweeny Todd at the Royal Festival Hall with Bryn Terfel, and Mary in Merrily We Roll Along at the Leicester Haymarket


 STEPPING OUT was adapted for the big screen in 1991, starring Liza Minnelli and Julie Walters.
Director Maria Friedman added: "It's about having the courage to put one foot in front of the other, and Amanda and her friends are all up for it and it speaks to them after 30 years."

The cast will also include Angela Griffin and Nicola Stephenson. Holden's musical theatre credits include Shrek The Musical and Thoroughly Modern Millie.