South Tyneside-born star to head home as Maria in The Sound of Music at Sunderland Empire

Andrew Lancel will reprise his role as Captain von Trapp.

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A South Tyneside-born star is set to raise the roof at Sunderland Empire playing Maria in a national tour of The Sound of Music.

Emilie Fleming, who grew up in Boldon Colliery, has made her mark on the West End stage after becoming a finalist in BBC One’s Over the Rainbow with Andrew Lloyd Webber. She went on to appear in the 20th Anniversary production of Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre in London.

Now she’s hitting the road playing the iconic role of Maria in a UK & Ireland tour of The Sound of Music, which will be playing at Sunderland Empire from February 11-15, 2020.

Bill Kenwright’s production tells the true story of the world-famous von Trapp family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of the Second World War.

Boldon Colliery actress Emilie Fleming stars as Maria in Sound of Music.

Starring alongside Emilie will be Andrew Lancel who will reprise his role as Captain von Trapp. Andrew is best known as villain Frank Foster in Coronation Street, a role that earned him a Villain of the Year award at the British Soap Awards. He also played DI Neil Manson in the long-running ITV television series The Bill. His numerous stage credits include Bill Kenwright’s touring productions of The Small Hand and Twelve Angry Men.

Producer Bill Kenwright said “The music and narrative of The Sound of Music are timeless. It’s a beautiful story about family and hope. The score transcends generations and the songs are known and loved by everyone.”

Baroness Maria von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography inspired Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse to create

a Broadway musical in 1959, which spawned the hit film starring Julie Andrews.

The score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including Edelweiss, My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, So Long, Farewell and of course, the iconic title song, The Sound of Music.

*Sound of Music plays Sunderland Empire from February 11-15, 2020. Tickets from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022 or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland