Chicago - U.K. Tour

Everyone who has booked will be fairly safe, as the chances of her being on will be minimal.

The comments on What’s On Stage’s Facebook post confirming this range from the outraged and angry to the hilarious. I guess she brings the ‘car crash’ factor to the show, but I know her casting wouldn’t make me book a ticket!

O well thats saved me some money.

Well this should make a few threads on here quite lively. I can only imagine what sort of audience this is going to attract.

This casting very much plays into regional plebs outside of our golden capital will only go see a production with a reality/east Enders star in it. Classism and elitism at its finest right there.
Chicago such a great show has become a joke. It really doesn’t need the stunts.

Only came here for the comments

The thought that I could see the great Jasna Ivir and Gemma Collins in the same role makes a mockery of musical theatre. Lots of people already feel it's a lesser art form and this kind of nonsense isn't doing anyone any favours.

Interesting to see all the ‘non trained’ names liking posts or coming out to defend GC. Accusing people who are commenting of ‘gatekeeping’
Seems acting in musical theatre is pretty much the only profession where they’ll let anyone with a profile ‘have a go’
Imagine a non trained plumber, midwife, driving instructor etc having a go...
It’s not gate keeping it’s a universally recognised sign you’ll get somewhere in the ballpark of quality?
When did Chicago decide to go down the stunt cast route in the regions? It really does presuppose that we’re all a bunch of easily satisfied soap watching, reality fans.
Never watched either but I’ve heard of GC. Mostly in the realms of diva bad behaviour not acting prowess.
Wonder what those who’ve booked and never heard of the woman will think?

I remember seeing him as Billy Flynn.
Painful.
When he came on stage for his opening number someone shouted.
‘Alright Ma’
He obviously proceeded to deliver his NastyNick/BillyFlynn hybrid as expected.
I vowed never to watch it again as a regional audience member who deserves the same west end quality as the next person.
I don’t think Chicago is alone. The regional theatres are full of ex soap and reality stars chewing the scenery.

That's an interesting point actually. Unfortunately I don't think Equity in the UK has the same industry "clout" as its US counterpart so it probably can't do much to restrict casting choices, and that's such a grey area anyway. 

Let’s be really truthful, this show is a knackered old nag, and the last few tours have been pretty grim. It survives on stunt casting and the quality is getting worse and worse. They now have a months fantastic free publicity and weather Gemma Collins turns up or not will keep the papers full. There is an irony that a show about instant noteriety and fame due to fleeting fame is now doing exactly that. I assume in a few years Rose West might be playing Momma Morton.