SOME 17 years since it first opened on Broadway the worldwide smash hit musical Footloose: The Musical is set to burst back onto the stage in 2016 starring Gareth Gates.

The show will visit The Kings Theatre, Portsmouth from Monday March 28 - Saturday April 2, as well as Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre from Tuesday April12 – Saturday April 16

Gareth, who is currently on the road with Mad About The Musicals, rose to fame in the inaugural Pop Idol TV show in 2001/2 selling millions of records worldwide and starring in numerous stage musicals.

He has headlined in Les Miserables, Legally Blonde and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

And in 2014, he picked up his skates again to appear in the last ever TV series of Dancing on Ice.

Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let's Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again in this brand new production, bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music.

When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest-grossing February release in US film history. The soundtrack album ended the year-long reign of Michael Jackson’s Thriller at number one and went on to top album charts all over the world, eventually selling in excess of 17 million copies. Footloose was nominated for a Golden Globe, and both the title song and Let’s Hear It for the Boy received Academy Award nominations.

Footloose: The Musical first opened on Broadway in 1998 where it ran for 709 performances, with a London production following in 2006, opening at the Novello Theatre following a UK Tour.

Gareth Gates will play Willard. Gareth rose to fame through the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, going on to sell over 5 million records worldwide and have hits across the globe. His version of Unchained Melody sold over a million copies in the UK and is the 3rd best-selling single of the Noughties. Gareth is also the youngest ever-male solo artist to debut at number 1. In 2014 Gareth appeared in the final series of Dancing on Ice, and joined boyband 5th Story as part of ITV’s second series of The Big Reunion, touring arenas with bands including Blue and Five.

Further casting is to be announced.

Tickets are on sale now. For Bournemouth Pavilion: Call BH Live Tickets on 0844 576 3000†, book online at www.bhlivetickets.co.uk or visit the Bournemouth Pavilion Ticket Office in person. Groups 10+ 01202 451865.

For Portsmouth King's Theatre: By Phone: 023 9282 8282

Group Bookings (10+): 023 9285 2232

In person: Our Box Office is open 10am – 6pm, Monday – Saturday.