BRIAN Gilligan, Kevin Kennedy and Andrew Linnie will lead the touring cast for The Commitments, the West End musical hit that takes to the road for seven months from October.

The show will visit Leeds Grand Theatre from December 5 to 10 and the Grand Opera House, York, from February 13 to 18 next year, with Gilligan reprising his starring role as Deco and Linnie as Jimmy Rabbitte from the two-year run at London’s Palace Theatre.

Actor and musician Kevin Kennedy, best known for playing Curly Watts in Coronation Street, will play Jimmy's Da in Roddy Doyle's story of the world's hardest-working soul band.

“The Commitments were born in Dublin, moved to London, and will soon be hopping all over the shop," says Doyle. "I wrote the novel – invented the characters – in 1986 and it thrills me to think that they will be entertaining audiences throughout the UK and Ireland 30 years later in 2016.”

Since leaving Corrie, Kevin Kennedy has appeared in such musicals as Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and We Will Rock You. “After working abroad, I'm delighted to be returning to such an iconic musical as The Commitments. It's a pleasure to travel around the country playing to enthusiastic audiences who love this show.”

Brian Gilligan originally played drummer Billy "The Animal" Mooney in the West End production, but several months later, he was overheard singing to himself in the stairwell at the Palace Theatre and blew away the director, who then re-cast him as Deco. “I'm very fortunate to be returning to a role and show that I really love," he says.

York Press:

Brian Gilligan as Deco in The Commitments. Picture: Johan Persson

Andrew Linnie was first part of the West End production’s ensemble, but saved the day when the actor playing Jimmy Rabbitte damaged his knee and both of the understudies were unavailable. Despite not having performed the role before, Linnie took over that evening, receiving a standing ovation after only a few hours' rehearsals.

He carried on playing Jimmy for the rest of the week and now will play him once more on tour. "I made my West End debut in this show and couldn’t be more delighted to be returning to play the wonderful music again,” he says.

The Commitmentettes will be played by sisters Amy and Leah Penston, as Natalie and Imelda respectively, while Christina Tedders will be Bernie. Amy says: "I'm absolutely over the moon to be back with The Commitments playing Natalie. I'm so looking forward to working with some of the old gang and rocking the stage together again. Not only that, but it's a dream come true to back on stage with my wonderful sister, Leah. We're just elated to be working together again."

Leah concurs: “I'm so thrilled to be playing the role of Irish icon Imelda Quirke, which was originally portrayed in the film by Angeline Ball," she says. "I have some pretty big shoes to fill. The fact that I get to perform alongside my amazing big sis makes it all the more special. It's going to be a tour to remember.”

Christina adds: “I've loved The Commitments since I was a little girl. My nightly renditions of Mustang Sally were both the joy and bane of my parents' evenings. I'm totally thrilled to be playing the role of Bernie.”

Joining the tour too, after appearing in the West End production, will be Peter Mooney as Derek, Padraig Dooney as Dean, Sam Fordham as Mickah and John Currivan as Billy. They will be accompanied by Rhys Whitfield as James, Alex McMorran as Joey and Christian James as Outspan.

The show has been adapted for the stage by Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle from his original novel. Directed by C Jay Ranger, The Commitments is packed with more than 20 soul classics such as Try A Little Tenderness, River Deep, Mountain High, In The Midnight Hour, Save Me, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Reach Out, Uptight and I Can't Turn You Loose.

Tickets for the York run can be booked on 0844 871 3024 or at atgticketscom/york; for Leeds, 0844 848 2700 or leedsgrandtheatre.com/