With more than 20 major awards to its name, and an Oscar-winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita is one of the most recognisable musicals around.

Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, it’s a theatrical event.

Following its run at London’s Dominion Theatre, the Bill Kenwright production is set to thrill audiences in Dartford.

Taking on the role of Eva Perón will be Emma Hatton, fresh from playing the lead, Elphaba, in Wicked in the West End. She has also had roles in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, and Dreamboats and Petticoats.

A jazz and blues singer, she has had residencies at the Savoy Hotel, and Ronnie Scott’s and her one-woman show, Songbird, sold out at the Live at Zedel’s season for Crazy Coqs and was followed by Unforgettable at the Jazz Café for the London Jazz Festival. She also recorded her first EP with Anthony Strong in 2015, Merry Christmas, Darling, which went to No.1 in the iTunes Jazz charts.

Making his UK debut is leading Italian performer Gian Marco Schiaretti who will be playing Che. He most recently played Tarzan in Disney’s Musical Tarzan, in Stuttgart. Joining them will be Kevin Stephen-Jones, set to play Argentinian President Juan Perón.

Telling the story of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, Evita follows Eva’s journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status which ultimately lead her to be heralded as the “spiritual leader of the nation” by the Argentine people.

DETAILS

Evita will be at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford, from Tuesday, May 30, to Saturday, June 3. For tickets visit orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.