Birmingham Rep has announced the UK premiere of the new musical Becoming Nancy, which will run from Wednesday 2 October – Saturday 2 November.

This coming of age story has a huge-heart. It’s a new musical that weaves a story of family bonds, first loves, and the courage it takes to find your own spotlight.

Based on the extraordinarily moving coming of age novel by Terry Ronald, it’s directed and choreographed by the Tony Award-winning Jerry Mitchell.

Jerry Mitchell directed and choreographed Olivier Award-winning musicals in the West End - Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde and he choreographed Hairspray. The Tony Award-winning director and choreographer was returning to New York from the UK in 2013 and came across the book Becoming Nancy at Heathrow Airport. By the time he reached the US he knew he had to make the story into a musical.

In Becoming Nancy, it’s 1979 and David Starr is unquestionably one of the smartest, most talented sixth formers in East Dulwich – he’s got a wild imagination, a vocal range to die for and a bedroom plastered with posters of his beloved pop idols: Blondie, Sting and Kate Bush.

But being clever, having talent and great taste in music may not be enough to get him through secondary school where, to his great surprise, he’s just been given the female lead in the school play. The unconventional casting sends shockwaves to everyone around him – including his parents, his aunt, and his classmates.

Before long, it seems like everybody has an opinion on whether David should go on with the show, inspiring him to turn to his no-nonsense best friend Frances and his unlikely co-star Maxie, the enigmatic captain of the football team.  Becoming Nancy is the huge-hearted new musical that weaves a story of family bonds, first loves, and the courage it takes to find your own spotlight.

Becoming Nancy shows at Birmingham Rep from Wednesday 2 October – Saturday 2 November. Tickets are available here.