SMASH hit musical The Commitments written by Roddy Doyle arrives at The Bristol Hippodrome in February as part its UK tour.

Starring Coronation Street legend Kevin Kennedy, the UK tour will also feature many of the cast from the record breaking show’s two year run at London’s Palace Theatre, including Brian Gilligan who will reprise his starring role of Deco and Andrew Linnie who will star as Jimmy Rabbitte.

Kevin Kennedy won the hearts of the nation when he starred as Curly Watts in Coronation Street.

Since leaving Coronation Street, Kevin has regularly appeared in theatre productions including: Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and We Will Rock You.

Kevin said: “After working abroad, I am delighted to be returning to such an iconic musical as The Commitments. It is a pleasure to travel around the country playing to enthusiastic audiences who love this show.”

The show has been adapted for the stage by Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle, from his original novel and tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working class music fan, who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced.

The show follows the journey of two members of a frustrated synthesiser band – the opening scene has them playing, but ignored, in a shop window - who turn to Jimmy, the local music expert, for help.

Placing a classified advert in a music paper, Jimmy auditions a number of wannabes before finalising the new line up who he names The Commitments.

The humour kicks in as the band get to know each other and their instruments, and proceed through early rehearsals for their first gig.

Just as they improve and begin to get a name for themselves they combust.

The backing singers are all getting off with the middle aged horn playing legend, the singer has entered Eurovision, the drummer has walked out mid-gig and the saxophone player has dangerous leanings towards a jazz career.

Directed by C Jay Ranger, The Commitments is packed with more than 20 classic soul songs performed live on stage including: Night Train, Try A Little Tenderness, River Deep, Mountain High, In The Midnight Hour, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Save Me, Mustang Sally, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Reach Out, Uptight, Knock On Wood, I Can't Turn You Loose and more.

  •  See The Commitments at The Bristol Hippodrome from Monday, February 20-Saturday, February 25. Visit atgtickets.com and thecommitmentsontour.co.uk for tickets.