RUTHIE Henshall is embarking on a brand new national tour for 2013 - and she will be coming to Barry!

'An Intimate Evening with Ruthie Henshall' offers a unique opportunity to spend an evening with one of the world's best-loved and most captivating performers.

Starting in Salisbury the tour will take in Norwich, Hereford, Wellingborough, Chelmsford, Durham, Basingstoke, High Wycombe, Warwick, Caernarfon, Barry and Newport before finishing at the Daphne Du Maurier Festival in Cornwall in May.

Ruthie Henshall, embarking on her first-ever regional tour, and her band will take you on a musical journey through her extraordinary career, from working with Lionel Bart to playing in Chicago on Broadway, from starring in Les Miserables to receiving her Olivier award.

All new charming arrangements, hand-picked musicians and Ruthie's 'dazzling burst of star power' (The Times) promises an unforgettable evening.

This is a chance to hear Ruthie's story in her own words as well as some of the defining songs of her life, onstage and off. The evening draws from a broad range of genres, from the great American songbook through to contemporary tunes significant to Ruthie to the present day.

Ruthie Henshall is an internationally acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning performer and long established star of West End and Broadway. She played Maggie in the UK tour of A Chorus Line, followed by her West End debut in Cats.

Other West End appearances include the original casts of Crazy For You, Miss Saigon, Oliver!, The Woman In White, Peggy Sue Got Married, She Loves Me and Marguerite.

She played Fantine in Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre and as part of the tenth anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She has starred in both leading roles in Chicago in the West End and on Broadway.

Other appearances in New York include The Vagina Monologues, Miss Saigon and Putting It Together. Ruthie has been nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award five times, winning Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Peggy Sue Got Married.

Ruthie's TV appearances include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Law & Order, The Sound of Musicals and Doctor Who. She was also an original judge on ITV1's Dancing on Ice before reprising her role of Roxy in Chicago in the West End.

Ruthie's solo recordings include: Love Is Here To Stay, The Ruthie Henshall Album and Pilgrim. Whilst 2012 also saw Ruthie release her first book, So You Want To Be In Musicals? Offering an insider's guide to a career in musical theatre, it is packed with anecdotes from Ruthie's own glittering career and a wealth of advice on how to succeed in the industry.

Joining Ruthie will be her band led by musical director Paul Schofield on piano, Lewis Andrews on guitar/bass and Stephen Maclachlan on drums.

Exclusively for her Welsh dates only, Ruthie shall be supported by Nathan James, star of ITV1's Superstar who at 24-years-old, is fast becoming known as the UK most exciting rock voice.

For tickets telephone the Memo on 01446 738622 or email the box office at boxoffice@barrymemo.co.uk

For further information visit www.memorialhalltheatre.co.uk