THE Commitments, the critically acclaimed musical written by Roddy Doyle, is coming to Plymouth’s Theatre Royal on Monday, featuring Coronation Street legend Kevin Kennedy as Jimmy’s Da.

The tour, which comes to the Theatre Royal from April 24 to April 29, also features many of the cast from the record breaking show’s two-year run at London’s Palace Theatre, including Brian Gillian as Deco and Andrew Linnie who stars as Jimmy Rabbitte.

It’s 30 years since The Commitments — the world’s hardest working soul band — first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle’s best-selling novel.

Doyle said: ’The Commitments were born in Dublin, moved to London, and are now hopping all over the shop. I write the novel — invented the characters — in 1986 and it thrills me to think that they will be entertaining audiences throughout the UK 30 years later in 2016.’

Kevin Kennedy won the hearts of Coronation Street viewers as Curly Watts. Since leaving the soap, he has regularly appeared in theatre productions including Chicago, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and We Will Rock You.

Kevin said: ’After working abroad, I am delighted to be returning to such an iconic music as The Commitments. It is a pleasure to travel around the country playing to the enthusiastic audiences who love this show.’

The Commitments tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working class music fan, who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act, the finest soul band Dublin has ever produced.

The show follows the journey of two members of a frustrated synthesizer band, who turn to Jimmy for help.

For more information, see the Theatre Royal Plymouth website.