Australian stage stars Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers will star as Mary and Bert in the upcoming U.K. and Ireland tour of Mary Poppins.
The tour, which will commemorate 20 years since the musical received its world premiere in Bristol, will run throughout 2024 and 2025, with stops in Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester, and more, with things kicking off at the Bristol Hippodrome on November 4.
Jones and Chambers return to the toe-tapping roles following their critically acclaimed performances in the Australian production. Additional casting and tour stops will be announced at a later date.
Mary Poppins, a co-production between Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, is based on P.L. Travers' original stories and the 1964 Disney film. The musical featured choreography and co-direction by Matthew Bourne and included original songs from the film—with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman—as well as new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Julian Fellowes wrote the book.
Said Mackintosh, “It is amazingly already 20 years since Mary Poppins first landed onto the stage at the Bristol Hippodrome and started spreading Pamela Travers' magical stories around the great cities of the world. Mary has soared triumphantly around the globe and our recent Australian production discovered two of the most delightful Mary and Berts ever—Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers—whom I'm thrilled to be bringing to the United Kingdom and Ireland to star in this spectacular new national tour. They are heading a wonderful cast and I'm sure you will find this the most magical production of Mary Poppins ever, practically perfect in every way!"
