First casting news for Disney's new tour of Beauty and the Beast

Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail has just reported that Disney's new tour of Beauty and the Beast which kicks off at Bristol Hippodrome on August 25th has cast its leads.

Courtney Stapleton (SIX, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia! and Bat Out Of Hell) and Emmanuel Kojo (Girl From the North Country West End) will play Princess Belle and the Prince/Beast with two-time Tony nominee Gavin Lee  (Mary Poppins, The Spongebob Musical) as Lumiere the candelabra.

The original Mrs Potts, Dame Angela Lansbury,  is recording a new prologue to be played before each performance.

The original Broadway creative team  are cutting down the running time and  updating the staging including  a  Busby Berkeley-style tap dance for"Be Our Guest"led by tap supremo Gavin as  Lumiere. There is also an update to Belle's iconic costume with the pinafore no longer being part of her persona .