Alexandra Burke to star in West End revival of Chess

Singer Alexandra Burke will star in a revival of musical Chess on London’s West End.
The Bad Boys star, who recently competed on the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing, will star alongside musical theatre veteran Michael Ball in the latest version of musical, which was written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus in 1984.
“I am thrilled to confirm I’ll be appearing in Chess at the Coliseum this spring,” Alexandra wrote on Twitter. “To perform in such a truly wonderful theatre with such an awesome cast, huge orchestra & singing that amazing score is such an honour for me.Can’t wait.”
The X Factor U.K. 2008 winner, who previously starred in musicals based on films Sister Act and The Bodyguard, will play Svetlana, the estranged wife of Ball’s character Anatoly, a Russian chess champion. The musical tells the story of a Cold War-era chess competition against America and Russia and features notable songs like I Know Him So Well and One Night in Bangkok.
It is the first West End revival of the musical in almost 30 years. It previously ran on the West End from 1986 to 1989 before launching a number of U.K. tours. It is also set for a revival on Broadway in 2018.
Murray Head, who starred in the 1986 West End version, will return for the revival but in a different role. The main cast is rounded out by Tim Howar, lead vocalist in the band Mike and the Mechanics, and Cassidy Janson.
The revival, which will feature the English National Opera’s orchestra and chorus, opens at the London Coliseum on 26 April (18) for a limited five-week run.