This September, beloved family favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang returns to the Birmingham Hippodrome after a decade long absence from the City. Amongst a fantastic cast for the new touring production is West End star Claire Sweeney, who earlier this month kicked off her engagement playing the villainous, child-hating Baroness Bomburst. 


It's another juicy role for Sweeney, who shot to fame initially playing Lindsey Corkhill in Channel 4's Brookside, but has since notched up an impressive back catalogue of performances - particularly in musical theatre - including the likes of Paulette in Legally Blonde: The Musical and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. She joins Chitty Chitty Bang Bang just a handful of months after bringing a successful UK tour of Hairspray to a close, in which she played the devious Velma Von Tussle.


Ahead of Chitty Chitty flying into Birmingham next month, I was able to have a chat with Claire to discuss the show, whether it is more fun playing the bad guys, and how it is playing such a child-loathing baddy less than two years after becoming a mum for the first time.

Click below for my interview with Claire:

Sweeney will join Lee Mead (Casualty, Legally Blonde, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Caractacus Potts, Carrie Hope Fletcher (Les Misérables, War of the Worlds) as Truly Scrumptious, Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst, Matt Gillett (Jersey Boys, Top Hat) as the Childcatcher and Andy Hockley (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Grandpa Potts.

This new production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining, with new choreography by Stephen Mear. There is a live orchestra with Musical Supervision by Stephen Ridley. Set and costume design is by Simon Higlett, lighting design is by Tim Mitchell, sound design is by Ben Harrison and video design is by Simon Wainwright. 

There are sensational sets and stunning special effects and, of course, the memorable score by the Sherman Brothers, which includes such standards as 'Truly Scrumptious', 'Toot Sweets', 'Hushabye Mountain' and the Oscar-nominated title song 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

The Music & Lyrics Limited and West Yorkshire Playhouse production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is presented by permission of JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL of New York.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang runs at the Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 18 September 2016.

For tickets, visit the official Hippodrome website by Clicking Here, or alternatively telephone the Box Office directly on 0844 338 5000.

For more information on the tour, including other venues and dates, head over to www.chittythemusical.co.uk.