Hairspray (musical) closed, "Hairspray" began touring the UK and Ireland, starting at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on April 7, 2010, following previews from March 30. The tour stars Michael Ball as Edna, alternating with Michael Starke and Brian Conley; Les Dennis, Nigel Planer and Micky Dolenz alternating as Wilbur and Laurie Scarth as Tracy. "Hairspray" toured the UK and Ireland in 2013. The show opened on February 13 in The Lowry Theatre in Manchester with Mark Benton playing Edna Turnblad, Lucy Benjamin playing Velma Von Tussle, Marcus Collins as Seaweed Stubbs and Freya Sutton as Tracy Turnblad, respectively. MM Musicals
Dame Edna Everage becoming an Edna trademark – interaction with the theatre audience. In April 1976, Edna made an appearance in "A Poke in the Eye (with a Sharp Stick)" – the first of what became Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball series of benefit shows. Edna performed a song for the show and was featured in the film of the show. She also appeared in the 1981 Amnesty show "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball". Edna made a cameo appearance in the 1978 film "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". In 1979 she was the subject of a BBC "Arena" mockumentary: "La Dame aux