Line Of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar transforms from tough TV cop to friendly song and dance man as he makes his musical theater debut in Kiss Me, Kate

Tough TV cop Adrian Dunbar transforms into a singing stage star as he makes his musical theater debut in Kiss Me, Kate.

The Line of Duty actor, who plays Chief Inspector Ted Hastings in the BBC1 drama, appears in a new trailer for the musical alongside Broadway legend and Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Black, smartly dressed in a black suit and tie , as the pair deliver the “sophisticated and hilarious show.”

He stars as Fred Graham, the theater director, producer and leading man who clashes with his leading actress and ex-wife Lilli Vanessa on and offstage in his latest production – the musical version of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

As Adrian and Stephanie state in the trailer, the show is in character “a love story about two people who hate each other,” set to a soundtrack by legendary American composer Cole Porter.

The beloved comedy farce, which first appeared on Broadway in 1948, returns to London this summer for a fifteen-week run at the Barbican Theater from June 4 to September 14, and is directed by Bartlett Sher, who previously The King directed. and kill me and a mockingbird.

The actor is best known for his role as Chief Inspector Ted Hastings in the hit drama Line Of Duty (portrayed in character)

Speaking about his latest role, Adrian, 65, said: “I am so pleased to be returning to the stage this summer at my spiritual home at the Barbican – where I started my career at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama – especially in this Cole Porter classic with the amazing creative team including Bart Sher and Stephanie J. Block.

“The summer of 2024 just got a lot brighter.”

Stephanie, 51, added: ‘I can’t wait to dive into this timeless classic and put a new stamp on it alongside the incredible Adrian Dunbar.

“Mark my words, this Kiss Me, Kate will certainly not be just another ‘another opening’, a new show.”

Northern Irishman Adrian has an enormous passion for music and has performed with his band in intimate venues, but also during talk show appearances.

He incorporated singing into his ITV police drama Ridley, in which he plays a retired detective inspector and part-time jazz singer, and has previously spoken of wanting to release an album.

During his 2019 speech, he said, “I’m hoping to do something in the recording studio this year and I’ve had a number of approaches to doing things,” Dunbar said.

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do – it might be interesting to write some songs or something – but I’m definitely going to do something. I was in bands many years ago, so that’s where it started. I played in bands, sang background vocals and stuff.

Adrian is seen in a new trailer for the musical alongside Broadway legend and Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Black, smartly dressed in a black suit and tie, as the pair praise the “sophisticated and hilarious show.”

As Adrian and Stephanie state in the trailer, the show is in character “a love story about two people who hate each other,” set to a soundtrack by legendary American composer Cole Porter.

He incorporated vocals into his ITV police drama Ridley, in which he plays a retired detective inspector and part-time jazz singer, and has previously spoken of wanting to release an album (pictured)

That was always there, but I just never got the chance.’

Adrian added: “I started acting and that went away and you concentrate on other things but I’ve always kept it going and I’ve always done gigs with friends of mine, lots of jazz gigs at Ronnie Scott’s and stuff like that. over the years.’

A new album is more likely than a seventh series of Line of Duty, after co-star Martin Compston gave up hope the series could return.

He said, “Really, there are no plans at all. We all love each other now more than just colleagues. They are among my dearest friends and we would all love to work together someday, but there are no plans.”

He added, “I don’t think Jed [Mercurio, the show’s creator] If I ever wrote it for the sake of writing, it would have to be with a story. We went on such a high in terms of [viewing] figures; Maybe it’s the best way to leave it. I know this is probably not what people want to hear.”

The beloved comedy farce, which first appeared on Broadway in 1948, returns to London this summer for a fifteen-week run at the Barbican Theater from June 4 to September 14.