The Wanted’s SIVA KANESWARAN joins the star cast of La Bamba!

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR ORIGINAL NEW MUSICAL LA BAMBA!

SIVA KANESWARAN MAKES HIS THEATRICAL DEBUT AND WILL BE PERFORMING IN VENUES ACROSS THE UK.

Paul Morrissey Ltd is pleased to announce the casting for the world premiere of the explosive new musical, La Bamba!

La Bamba! is a pulsating dance musical that will open at Curve in Leicester on Tuesday, 1st August 2023 before heading to London’s Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells West End theatre, for a limited season on Tuesday 22 August 2023 until Saturday 2nd September 2023. La Bamba! will continue a UK tour until December 2023.

Announcing boyband star Siva Kaneswaran playing the role of Mateo. Singer and songwriter and best known for being one fifth of pop band The Wanted, Siva has recently appeared in ITV’s Dancing On Ice. He will be joined by rising star Inês Fernandez in the lead role of Sofia.

La Bamba! tells the story of how the power of music can transform a generation and celebrate a community.

Sofia, a 17-year-old from Los Angeles, has music in her blood. From the moment her father handed her a guitar, her dream was to become a superstar. Inspired by her musical heroes and with the help of her family, Sofia discovers that even the longest journey begins with a single step. As she mixes the music from her roots with the music in her heart, Sofia dreams of bringing together a community that has never felt more divided. 

La Bamba! is a jaw-dropping new musical that combines Latin, R&B, and timeless rock and pop to tell the ultimate feel-good story of a young girl with a big voice, big dreams, and an even bigger heart.

The full company includes Bethan Mitchell, Stefani Ariza, Julia Ruiz Fernandez, Nicolle Matheu, Gabriella Rose-Marchant, Alex Sturman, Tristan Ghostkeeper and Luke Jarvis

La Bamba! is directed by multi-award-winning American director Ray Roderick, and features choreography by Graziano Di Prima, Erica Da Silva and associate choreography by Giada Lini. This brand-new musical will feature music from across the Latin genre from traditional folk songs to recent chart-topping hits all arranged by award-winning musical maestro, Alfonso Casado-Trigo. 

La Bamba! features an electric soundtrack of Latin pop anthems. Tickets on sale now for the fiesta of a lifetime!

La Bamba! is a vibrant new musical fiesta about passion and pride.

This production is recommended for ages 7 +.

#LaBambaOnStage

Siva Kaneswaran

A singer/songwriter and actor best known for being one fifth of pop band The Wanted. Hailing from Blanchardstown, Dublin, Siva comes from a musical and acting family, Siva has 5 brothers and 2 sisters and has an identical twin brother.

As a member of The Wanted, Siva had two UK number 1 singles, ten UK top 10’s and hit records all over the world including the debut single ‘All Time Low’ and the International smash hit ‘Glad You Came’. In 2021, The Wanted released their greatest hits album ‘Most Wanted’ and embarked on their 3rd UK arena tour playing to tens of thousands across the country.

Siva’s early career saw him modelling and acting on drama shows for CITV and CBBC where he featured in the TV series “Rock Rivals” and  ‘Uncle Max’. Whilst part of The Wanted, Siva and the boys had their own American reality TV show ‘The Wanted Life’ executive produced by Ryan Seacrest.

Aside from his music and acting work, Siva took part in (and won) the first series of the high energy show ‘Celebrity Hunted’ and most recently featured as a contestant on ITV’s ‘Dancing on Ice’ where his talents took him all the way to the semi final. Later this year, Siva will again appear on TV screens in the gruelling Channel 4 show ‘SAS, Who Dares Wins’.

Inês Fernandez

Inês is thrilled to be making her professional debut in the WORLD PREMIERE of LA BAMBA as Sofia and excited to be telling a beautiful story with this incredible team/family. Having grown up in Portugal with dreams of pursuing a career in the performing arts, she made the leap to the UK and started training at the wonderful International College of Musical Theatre, graduating in 2022. Inês would like to thank her family, friends, Emma & the teachers at ICMT and her Agent Louis at Innovation Artists for all the love and support. She is super grateful for this exciting journey ahead.

Nicolle Matheu

Guatamalan born Nicolle trained at Urdang Academy. Credits include:

Julia Ruiz Fernandez

Julia Ruiz Fernández is a versatile professional dancer born and raised in Spain, she has been working internationally as a dancer for the last 9 years.

She is being performing in different productions at the Royal Opera House in London for 7 years, touring across the country with few Strictly Theatre Co. Latin dance tours, and different Opera’s Productions.

In 2019-2020 she was an ensemble and original cast of the Gloria Estefan’s West End Musical On Your Feet.

Furthermore she recently was a principal dancer in the original cast of Ainadamar, Fountain of Tears, with the Scottish Opera, and this year she had her first contract in the United States as an Assistant Choreographer, Dance captain and Dancer at the Detroit Opera in Michigan, US.

Her passion for dance made her train every dance style – Ballet, Contemporary, Flamenco, Ballroom and Latin, Jazz, Commercial and Musical Theatre.

She won the title back in Spain of European Latin Dance Champion at the age of 16, and UK Bachata Champion in 2016 and since then she has been following her dreams and pursuing her artistic career.

www.juliaruizfdz.com

Alex Sturman

Training: The Urdang Academy

Career Highlights: Sir Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake & Edward Scissorhand’s, Queen Charlotte (Netflix), Barbie (Film, Warner Bros), Mary Poppins Returns (Film, Disney), ‘A Christmas To Remember’ with Aljâz & Janette, Classic Brit Awards, Britain’s Got Talent (Four Corners), Jessie J (Strictly Come Dancing)

Alex is very excited to be involved in this production of La Bamba! Thanks to his Mum, Dad & family for their continued love & support.

Bethan Mitchell

Bethan is a professional dancer located in London and specialises in Ballroom and Latin. She has trained and competed since the age of 10 and in more recent years taken her passion from the competition world onto the stage. She is pleased to be taking on the role of Dance Captain for La Bamba after finishing her most recent tour as DC and lead dancer on the UK tour of Come What May. She has also appeared in a number of different dance shows including Come What May 2023, This Is Me ‘Giovanni Pernice’ UK & Ireland tour 2020 & 2022, London Cabaret Club 2022, Cinderella 2022 Lincoln Theatre Royal, Beauty & The Beast 2021 Lincoln Theatre Royal and Strictly Cabaret X 2021.

Luke Jarvis

Luke trained at CPA Studios

West End Credits include: Swing/Understudy Amos Hart & Mary Sunshine in CHICAGO (The Phoenix Theatre).

Theatre Credits include: Ensemble in JOHANNES RADEBE: FREEDOM UNLEASHED (UK Tour); Ensemble/ Cover Dandini in CINDERELLA (Newcastle theatre Royal); Menesias Actor in SALOME (Royal Opera House); Vince Santos in DIRTY DANCING (Secret Cinema); Ensemble/Cover Jigger in CAROUSEL (Killworth House); Fred Casely/Emergency Cover in CHICAGO (International Tour); Featured Ensemble/Understudy Villain in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (The Marlowe Theatre Canterbury); Richie Valens in LA BAMBA (Workshop); Alonzo in CATS (RCCL); Ensemble in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (The Union Theatre London); Harrison/Doc in CHICAGO DAS MUSICAL (German Tour); Harrison in CHICAGO (RCCL); Captain Planet in ORIGINAL CAST, RAINBOW ROCKS (International Tour); John in the ORIGINAL CAST, OF SIX FIVE ROCK N ROLL EXPRESS (Assembly Hall Theatre); Dancer on (P&O AZURA); Vince in FASHION VICTIM THE MUSICAL (The Vaults Theatre); Ensemble in PETER PAN (Camberley Theatre); Dance Captain in CALL ME MADAM (The Union Theatre London); Ensemble in ALADDIN (The Playhouse Theatre); Bobby in BLUEBIRDS (The Stag Theatre, London); Linus in SNOOPY THE MUSICAL (The Kenneth Moore Theatre, Ilford)

Film Credits Include: Dancer in DISENCHANTED (Disney).

Instagram @Lukejarvis1992

Represented by Michelle Blair Management

Tristan Ghostkeeper

Tristan trained at Arts Umbrella, Vancouver BC

Having grown up in a small town in Canada called Prince George, Tristan discovered his passion for dance at the age of ten. He trained in various styles of dance, he later moved to Vancouver to attend a contemporary and ballet based program known as “Arts Umbrella”.

Television credits include: ONCE UPON A TIME (Stage 49); ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST (NBC/Lionsgate); MOTHERLAND: FORT SALEM (Freeform) and SCHMIGADOON! (Universal/Broadway Video).

Film credits include: CENTER STAGE: ON POINTE (CSDS Film Ltd.) and THE J TEAM (Nickelodeon/One Pop Films).

Other credits include: Dancer in AIDA (Royal Opera House, London); Dancer, Vocalist and Aerialist for ROYAL CARRIBEAN CRUISE LINES; Dancer for THE CANADA WINTER GAMES – OPENING CEREMONIES (Patrick Roberge Productions).

Instagram: @ghostkeepertristan

Represented by Michelle Blair Management

Gabriella-Rose Marchant

Training: Gabriella-Rose Marchant trained at Bird College Conservatoire for Dance And Musical Theatre graduating in 2019 with a BA Honours Degree.

Theatre credits include: Understudy Gloria/Onstage Swing in On Your Feet! – The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan (UK Tour), Jenny/Ensemble in The All Or Nothing Experience (UK Tour), Candy in Billy The Kid (Workshop), Ensemble/Understudy Jasmine in Aladdin (Evolution Productions Pantomime), Ensemble in Dick Turpin Rides Again (Crossroads/QDOS Pantomime)

Others: Olympic Torch Flame Arrival Performance, Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony, Dance Proms

Gabriella-Rose is excited to be touring with the La Bamba Company!

TOUR DATES