AUDIENCES AT York and Darlington are gearing up to Twist and Shout when the biggest tour of The Beatles’ celebration show Let It Be visits 26 theatres across the UK. The Grand Opera House York hosts the show from Monday, April 4, to Saturday, April 9, and Darlington Civic Theatre welcomes the West End and Broadway hit from Monday, May 9 to Saturday, May 14.

The launch coincided with the 53rd anniversary of The Beatles’ second single, Please Please Me – which was released on January 11, 1963. Over half a century later, The Beatles have never been so popular with a real resurgence in the band’s popularity and new fans discovering their music.

It’s no easy matter finding a cast of talented musicians to take to stages across the country as the Fab Four, and creating the effortless and indistinguishable portrayals of John, Paul, George and Ringo. The cast have been confirmed as Paul Canning and Reuven Gershon (John Lennon); Emanuele Angeletti and Iain Hornal (Paul McCartney); John Brosnan and Paul Mannion (George Harrison); Luke Roberts (Ringo Starr). The band will be joined on stage throughout the tour by Michael Bramwell on keyboards.

Canning has toured Let It Be all over the world, including the European Tour 2014; Japan Tour (2014 and 2015), Monaco and the five-week run in Liverpool (Autumn 2015). The 37-year-old is married with two children. Born in Wolverhampton, brought up in Brentwood, Essex, and is now based in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Favourite Beatles song: In My Life.

Reuven Gershon has found John Lennon to have been a big part of his life, having played the Beatles’ front man in various shows, bands, programmes and films since 2009. He has been with Let It Be since 2012 and has tours the show all over the world including Japan, America and Canada. He is originally from Birmingham. A highlight was playing Imagine to the Liverpool audience on what would have been John Lennon’s 75th birthday on October 9, last year. Favourite Beatles song: Impossible to answer.

Emanuele Angeletti, known as Manny, was part of the original cast in London’s West End in 2012. The 40-year-old is from Italy and is still based there between work commitments. He has played Paul McCartney in various productions for 15 years. Favourite Beatles song: The Long And Winding Road.

Iain Hornal has previously appeared in Let It Be when it toured Japan in 2013. The 35-year-old is originally from Reading, and is now based in London. Favourite Beatles song: Penny Lane.

John Brosnan is part of the original cast who opened in the West End (2012) and on New York’s Broadway (2013), which he classes as real highlights. The Irish/Australian is especially looking forward to performing in Ireland. Favourite Beatles song: Across The Universe

Paul Mannion has been part of the cast for three years and has played both West End runs, as well as shows round Europe including Amsterdam, Germany and Vienna. A highlight was playing George in his home town of Liverpool during the Autumn of 2015. Favourite Beatles song: Here Comes The Sun.

Luke Roberts was part of the original West End and Broadway cast. He was also part of the line-up who played to 70,000 people at the BBC Proms In The Park at Hyde Park in 2012. Originally from Birmingham, Luke then moved to Leamington Spa. He is now based in London. Favourite Beatles song: Come Together.

Michael Bramwell studied piano at the London College of Music and has performed, recorded and toured internationally as a pianist and keyboard player. He was associate musical director for We Will Rock You in Germany, and also regularly performed in the London production. He has been part of the Let It Be cast since the show opened in 2012. Favourite Beatles song: Something

Derek Nicol, joint managing director of Flying Entertainment, says: “The show’s most recent run was in Liverpool, where they certainly know their stuff when it comes to The Beatles. They truly welcomed Let |It Be into their hearts, the response was fantastic and we knew it was time to share the show with the rest of the country through a 26-venue tour spanning seven months.”

The show originally opening at the Prince of Wales Theatre in September 2012, where it recouped its initial investment after 18 weeks before transferring for a year-long run at the Savoy Theatre from January 2013 through to February 2014. Before moving to Royal Court Theatre Liverpool, the show completed an eight-month run at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End.

Website: www.LetItBeLive.com Facebook: Let It Be UK Tour Twitter: @LetItBeUKTour

* Tickets for Darlington are 01325-486555 or at darlingtoncivic.co.uk and for the Grand Opera House, York, it's 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york