Spamalot is back!

Posted on 24 July 2012

Hot on the heels of its UK tour, cult favourite Spamalot wends its way back into the West End today beginning the previews for a limited seven week run.  The musical previously enjoyed great success as the Palace Theatre where it ran for over two years from September 2006.  It will now play at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 9th September and its latest incarnation comes with a slew of famous faces.

Child star-turned Doctor Who assistant-turned 'headbanging' Dancing On Ice contestant Bonnie Langford takes on the role of The Lady of the Lake, whilst former Eastenders, Grange Hill and Tucker's Luck star Todd Carty portrays Patsy.   They are joined by the cream of the comedy crop with both comedian Marcus Brigstocke and impressionist Jon Culshaw taking on the role of King Arthur.  Culshaw's tenure will be between 2 August and 2 September with Brigstocke sandwiching his at the start and end of the run.

The musical is based on the classic Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, widely perceived to be one of the funniest films of all time.  The highly irreverent show follows King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table's search for the elusive religious relic.  The musical's book and lyrics were written by original Python Eric Idle, with John Du Prez creating the music.  The original Broadway production won 14 Tony nominations in 2005 and won three of them including Best Musical.

Idle commented on the show's unusual title in a 2004 press release, saying: 'I like the title Spamalot a lot. We tested it with audiences on my recent US tour and they liked it as much as I did, which is gratifying. After all, they are the ones who will be paying Broadway prices to see the show. It comes from a line in the movie which goes: "we eat ham, and jam and Spam a lot." '

Songs from the show include I Am Not Dead Yet, The Song That Goes Like This, Run Away! and the classic hit Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, which Idle had written for the Monty Python's Life Of Brian.


Book tickets for Spamalot here