Batman Live cast announced

The cast has been announced for 'Batman Live: World Arena Tour'.

Nick Court and Sam Heughen will play the combined roles of Batman and Bruce Wayne, while Mark Frost has been cast as the villainous Joker.

Manchester will house the opening night of the tour - which tells the tale of Dick Grayson/Robin, a circus performer who loses his parents to organised crime and then goes on to befriend Bruce Wayne - before it continues across the UK and Ireland in 2011 and into North America in 2012.

Geoff Johns - chief creative officer of DC Entertainment - revealed he was looking forward to bringing the show to life because fans will feel like they are an "active participant" in the story.

He said: "When you first come into the arena and see the cityscape and hear the birds, you really feel like you're part of Gotham City and you're an active participant in the story.

"When Batman comes out and you see him doing this thing live, it's a totally different experience.

"Then you bring out Robin when he's in the circus and suddenly you're in the audience of the circus and you're immersed in the world.

"To be part of it and see it happen is going to be so fantastic."

The show will start on July 19 at the Manchester Evening News Arena before wrapping up the UK and Ireland leg of the tour in the Northern Irish capital Belfast at the Odyssey Arena on October 8.

'Batman Live' Cast List

Batman / Bruce Wayne - Nick Court and Sam Heughan

Robin / Dick Grayson - Kamran Darabi-Ford and Michael Pickering

The Joker - Mark Frost

Commissioner Gordon/ The Penguin - Alex Giannini

Catwoman / Martha Wayne - Emma Clifford

Alfred Pennyworth - John Conroy

Harley Quinn / Mary Grayson - Poppy Tierney

Two Face / Ringmaster - Garry Lake

Tony Zucco - Jack Walker

Dr. Wayne - Darrell Brockis