One of the West End’s biggest hits of recent years, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy, Avenue Q, returns to The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton from 9-14 July 2012.

Hilarious and uproariously entertaining with songs performed by a cast of hugely talented performers and puppets, Avenue Q is a musical like no other.

The show has enjoyed enormous success, both on Broadway and in London, proving to be the perfect, contemporary musical.  Witty, rude and extremely funny, Avenue Q ingeniously combines a cast of humans and puppets who tackle subjects such as dating, racism, being gay and finding your purpose in life.

The story follows Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate new to the area, as he desperately tries to follow his dreams and discover his ever-elusive purpose in life. A tiny bank balance, the distraction of a busty blonde, and a variety of weird and wonderful friends and neighbours lead Princeton on a story of self-discovery.

Avenue Q is a musical about the lively and off-the-wall characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues: love, work, relationships, and, above all, just how are you supposed to pay the bills with a BA in English?

The national tour is being staged by Associate Director Evan Ensign, who has worked on Avenue Q previously on Broadway.  The cast for the UK tour features Sam Lupton as Princeton and Rod; Katharine Moraz as Kate and Lucy, and Julie Yammanee as Christmas Eve. Chris Thatcher plays the roles of Nicky, Trekkie and Bear, following West End appearances in Avenue Q; Daniella Gibb appears as Mrs T and Bear; Matt Henry appears as Gary, a role he played in the original West End production; and Edward Judge plays the role of Brian.

The cast members have also worked with Nigel Plaskitt in preparation for the tour of Avenue Q. An actor, director, animation director and producer, Nigel was puppet coach and consultant for the London production of Avenue Q.  His numerous credits include the feature films The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Muppet Treasure Island, and UK tours of Peppa Pig’s Party and Spongebob Squarepants. He was one of the principal performers on the successful television series Spitting Image for 13 years, also acting as consultant on versions of the series for various European TV companies.

Avenue Q The Musical is the result of a collaboration between Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who began writing the show in 1999, originally thinking the idea would make a great TV series.  Three years later it opened off-Broadway, and after extending four times at the Vineyard Theatre following rave reviews, it transferred to Broadway.  After opening at the Golden Theatre in 2003, Avenue Q scooped the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Musical, and in 2004 the show won three Tony Awards for Best New Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. In 2006, Avenue Q The Musical travelled across the Atlantic, opening in London’s West End at the Noel Coward Theatre (formerly the Albery Theatre). Whilst in the West End, Avenue Q also enjoyed residencies at the Gielgud Theatre and Wyndham’s Theatre, where it ran until October 2010 ahead of the first UK tour in 2011.

Avenue Q has music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; and directed by Jason Moore.  The puppets are conceived and designed by Rick Lyon. Music arrangement and orchestrations are by Stephen Oremus with musical supervision by Nick Finlow and incidental music by Gary Adler.  Choreography is by Ken Roberson.  Avenue Q‘s scenic design is by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley and Associate Lighting Designer Ryan O’Gara, with sound design by Terry Jardine for Autograph.

The Avenue Q UK Tour is produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions Ltd, by arrangement with Kevin McCollum, Robin Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, Vineyard Theatre, The New Group and Cameron Mackintosh.

Tickets for Avenue Q (9-14 July 2012) are on sale online at mayflower.org.uk

Telephone 02380 711811 or in person from the Mayflower ticket south shop in The Marlands, Southampton.