Her Benny comes to the Rhyl Pavilion

Sep 29 2011 Flintshire Chronicle

DENBIGHSHIRE brother and sister Dewi and Erin Wykes are being put through their paces in preparation for a starring role in the much loved Liverpool musical Her Benny ahead of curtain up at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl this autumn.

Dewi, 10, and Erin, nine, who both go to Ben Barras school in Ruthin, have been cast as the production’s juvenile leads - coincidentally another brother and sister but this time Victorian street urchins Benny and Nell Bates.

It’s the first time that writer and director Anne Dalton has taken her award winning musical Her Benny over the border into Wales.

In fact 2011 is a milestone year for Anne and her team at ABD Productions as the musical, which has already played to more than 700,000 people, embarks upon its first ever tour.

Her Benny is a rags to riches, feel good family musical following the fortunes of urchin Benny and his little sister Nell, as they rely on courage and love to survive on the hard streets of Liverpool in the late 1800s.

Abandoned by a drunken father and loveless stepmother, the youngsters are taken in by kindly night watchman, Joe Wragg, and wife Sally.

After their initial happiness tragedy strikes when Benny is falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and Nell’s health fails.

Anne Dalton says it’s the first time ever that a real life brother and sister have been cast in the role.

“We’ve been staging productions of Her Benny since the early 1990s and throughout all this time I’ve never come across a brother and sister who have auditioned for the lead roles of Benny and Nell.

“Seeing so many children audition at Rhyl I didn’t notice at the time of casting that they were related – it was their acting and singing abilities that shone through for me.

“The fact that they are real life siblings really is a bonus.”

Local radio presenter and television personality Johnny Kennedy is playing the lead of Joe Wragg, as he has done on previous runs.

Operatic star Julie Davitt takes the role of Sally Wragg, having played her at the Royal Court and Liverpool Empire theatres. BBC Radio Merseyside’s Andy Mac, brings a good dose of Scouse grit and humour, while Neil Newton, takes up the role of the criminal Jazzer.

Her Benny is at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl from October 4-8. For tickets, call 01745 330000 or visit www.rhylpavilion.co.uk.