Anthony Van Laast, James Powell to Direct U.K. Tour of Batman Live

Anthony Van Laast and James Powell will co-direct Batman Live, a new stage spectacle that will embark on a U.K. tour with an engagement at Manchester’s MEN Arena on July 20, according to a report on Whatsonstage.com.

The show, which will include video sequences, pyrotechnics and illusions, will feature an original story and other familiar characters such as the superhero’s sidekick Robin and his butler Alfred along with such villains as The Joker, The Riddler, Catwoman and The Penguin.

Circus sequences for the production will be created by Circus Space and aerialists Juliette Hardy-Donaldson and Bryan Donaldson will serve as circus consultants. The creative team will also include Es Devlin (scenic design), James Brett (original music), Simon Baker (sound design), Patrick Woodroffe (lighting design), Sam Pattinson (video design), and Jack Galloway (costume design).

Subsequent tour stops will include Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Nottingham, Dublin, and Belfast.

Van Laast has provided choreography for such musicals as Mamma Mia!, Sister Act and Bombay Dreams. Powell’s previous directing credits include Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, and Dirty Dancing.

For further information, visit: batmanlive.com.