X-FACTOR 2016 winner Matt Terry has been announced to play Alex The Lion in a brand new stage adaptation of Madagascar, called Madagascar - The Musical.

It comes to the Cliffs Pavilion on Monday September 4 until Friday September 8.

Since winning the TV talent show, Matt has been non-stop.

He’s been recording music all over the world including Miami, LA and Scandinavia. After a top three hit with the Ed Sheeran penned single When Christmas Comes Around, he released his debut album Trouble in November 2017.

Matt's first single from the album, Sucker For You had nearly 60 million streams on Spotify.

After Sucker For You, Matt went back to his Spanish childhood by featuring on Enrique Iglesias’s smash single, Subeme La Radio alongside Sean Paul.

Matt tells us: "I am so excited to be making my acting debut in the brand-new production, Madagascar – The Musical. It’s a childhood memory for all of us! I can’t wait to be playing the lead role of Alex and bringing him to life. Expect incredible costume, set and cast. And the music is immense! It will be an awesome night for everyone to enjoy. See you all there."

Matt will be joined by a cast including Antoine Murray-Straughan, Timmika Ramsay, Jamie Lee-Morgan, Shane McDaid, Laura Johnson, Jessica Niles, Victoria Boden, Matthew Pennington and Darren John.

Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – The Musical follows all of your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.

Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends – Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo – have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape – with the help of some prodigious penguins – to explore the world.

This whacky adventure for the whole family is brought to life by Selladoor Family, the producers behind James And The Giant Peach, Seussical and The Owl And The Pussycat and Hartshorn – Hook, producers of the Olivier Award winning Rotterdam, Murder Ballad, Urinetown and American Idiot .

Madagascar – The Musical is directed by award winning Kirk Jameson with choreography from Fabian Aloise.

Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto stage in this musical adventure of a lifetime.

Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, you’ll have no choice but to 'Move It, Move It!'

Visit southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135 for booking.