Actress, singer and The Voice UK finalist, Nicole Raquel Dennis, will play the role of Effie White in the first ever UK tour of Tony and Olivier award winning musical, Dreamgirls.

A finalist on the ITV show in 2019, Nicole wowed viewers and judges at her blind audition, performing ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ alongside team mentor Jennifer Hudson - who won an Oscar for her portrayal of White in the 2006 big screen adaptation of Dreamgirls, which also starred Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx.

Having served as first cover for the role in the West End, Nicole is currently performing as Alana Beck in the original West End company of Dear Evan Hansen at the Nöel Coward Theatre. Her other London stage credits include The Book of Mormon and Waitress.

This sensational, multi-award winning new production had its West End premiere in 2016 at London’s Savoy Theatre, 35 years on from opening on Broadway. The UK tour will begin this autumn and visit's Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre during Christmas 2020, opening on Tuesday 8th December. Nicole said:

"I am so thrilled that I can finally speak about something I’ve been holding onto for the longest time - playing Effie White in the first ever UK tour of Dreamgirls. 

"Effie has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and now I will get to share her with audiences around the UK. To say I’m excited is an understatement - and I also can't wait to be back with my Dear Evan Hansen family, on the stage at the Noel Coward once theatres reopen." 

WATCH NICOLE SING LIVE ON THE VOICE UK:

Producer, Sonia Friedman added:

“We are delighted to be able to announce that the incredibly gifted Nicole Dennis will be re-joining the Dreamgirls family to play Effie on tour throughout the UK.

"[The show] is an empowering and hugely entertaining story of hope, sisterhood, and resilience with an extraordinary score of now-classic hit songs from the golden era of American soul, R&B, and disco. It is a shining example of the escapism that we will all need soon."