Full Cast Confirmed For PIAF, Starring Frances Ruffelle, At Leicester Curve From Feb 16

As we reported earlier in the month, Tiffany Graves joins Frances Ruffelle in the cast of Piaf, opening at the Leicester Curve in February.

Artistic Director Paul Kerryson has confirmed the full cast of the show, prior to a planned national tour.

Known to all as 'Piaf', the sparrow that rose from the streets of Paris to the international stage, Edith Gassion's life and career is as unique as her extraordinary singing voice. Over one hundred thousand people brought Paris to a standstill on the occasion of her untimely death 50 years ago in 1963.

In this new production, Pam Gems' play brings to life and celebrates the story of one of France's greatest cultural icons. From street performer to worldwide fame, and including some of Piaf's greatest songs, such as La Vie en Rose, Mon Dieu, Hymne á l'Amour and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien, this mesmerising tale explores the sensational highs and lows of this enigmatic and world renowned artist who is revered and much loved to this day.

The original production of Piaf was at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1979. This new Curve production celebrates the extraordinary life of Edith Gassion on the 50th anniversary of her death.

Pam Gems is an English playwright (1925 - 2011). Her principal works include Franz Into April (1977), Queen Christina (1977), The Blue Angel (1991), the book for the musical Marlene (1996) and Stanley (1996).

Frances Ruffelle plays Piaf. Her extensive theatre credits include creating the role of Eponine in the original London and Broadway casts of Les Miserables winning a Tony Award, Helen Hayes Award, Theatre World Award and Outer Circle Critics' Award. Her other work for theatre includes Frastrada in Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), Dinah in the original company of Starlight Express, Roxie Hart in Chicago, and Louisa in The Sleeping Prince (both West End), the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (tour), Delilah in Ian Dury's Apples (Royal Court), Angelique Picard in Songs from a Hotel Bedroom (Royal Opera House), the title role in Mathilde (Edinburgh), Make Me A Song (New Players), Annabelle in Lucky Stiff (Bridewell), and Beneath the Dress at the Edinburgh Festival, Menier Chocolate Factory and West End. For television, her work includes Headless - for which she also co-wrote the soundtrack, Dream Team, Strangers, S.W.A.L.K., The Further Adventures of Robin Hood, The Equalizer, The Hard Word, Alan Bennett's Marks; and for film, the forthcoming Devil's Tower, Les Miserables, Eunice P'Tang Yang Kipperbang, The Invitation, The Road to Ithaca, Secrets and Lies, and The Wild Cats of St. Trinians.

Oliver Boot returns to Curve to play Marcel and as cast. He previously appeared in Finding Neverland. His other theatre work includes Bedroom Farce (national tour), Timon of Athens, A Midsummer Night's Dream, In Extremis, Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare's Globe), The Lady from the Sea (Birmingham Rep), Jamaica Inn (Salisbury Theatre) and Othello (Cheek by Jowl). For television, his work includes Great Night Out, One Night, My Family, Garrow's Law, Holby City (series regular), The Time of Your Life, Distant Shores, and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps; and for film, John Carter and Blooded.

Jason Denton plays as cast, returning to Curve following his performances in Hello Dolly! and Hot Stuff. His other theatre work includes Save the Last Dance for Me (UK tour), I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky (Theatre Royal Stratford East/Barbican), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK tour). Sean Dodds plays returns to Curve to play as cast. He previously appeared at the theatre in Oliver and West Side Story.

Tiffany Graves plays Marlene and as cast. Her theatre work includes Sweet Charity (Menier Chocolate Factory), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (National Theatre), Follies (Royal Festival Hall), La Traviata, Anything Goes (Grange Park Opera), We Will Rock You, Chicago, Cats (West End), Sunset Boulevard (Germany) and A Chorus Line (tour).

Russell Morton plays as cast. His theatre work includes Sweet Smell of Success (Arcola Theatre), You Once Said Yes (Roundhouse London), Molly Wobbly's Tit Factory (Belfast Lyric), Not Another Musical (Latitude), You Wouldn't Know Him, He Lives In Texas... (Underbelly Edinburgh), The Cradle Will Rock (Arcola Theatre), Bent (Landor/Tabbard) and Spike Milligan's Puckoon (Leicester Square Theatre).

Laura Pitt-Pulford returns to Curve to play Toine. She recently performed in Hello Dolly!. Her other theatre credits include critically acclaimed performances in Mack and Mabel and Parade (Southwark Playhouse), title role in Sweet Charity - Belfast MAC, The Little Prince - Lyric Belfast, Guys and Dolls (the Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, Clwyd Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse) and Copacabana (Watermill Theatre, Newbury).

Dale Rapley returns to Curve to play Louis Leplée and as cast. He recently appeared in Hello Dolly! opposite Janie Dee. His other recent theatre work includes Dangerous Lady (Theatre Royal, Stratford East), The Lady in the Van (Hull Truck, UK tour), The Tempest and King Lear (AFTLS, US tours), Mother of Him (Courtyard, Hoxton), The Merchant of Venice & Holding Fire (Shakespeare's Globe), Heartbreak House (Palace, Watford), A Model Girl (Greenwich Theatre), Professor Bernhardi & Rose Bernd (Arcola); Mamma Mia! (West End & international tour), A Midsummer Night's Dream, High Society (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (RSC), and Six Characters Looking for an Author (Young Vic). For television, his work includes Anna und die Liebe (German TV), Spooks, Silent Witness, Aquila, Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde, For Valour: The Peter Townsend Story, Between The Lines and The Vision Thing; and for film, Mein Prinz, Mein König, Mary's Date, Au Pair, and Paper Mask.

Stephen Webb plays Charles and as cast. He returns to Curve after appearing in Finding Neverland. His other theatre work includes Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre), Hamlet - The Musical (Pleasance Theatre), Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Wedding Singer, Footloose and Guys and Dolls (national tours) and Parade (Donmar Warehouse).

Artistic Director of Curve Paul Kerryson directs. For the company, his work includes Hello Dolly!, Entertaining Mr Sloane, Gypsy, Absurd Person Singular, The Light in the Piazza, The King and I (also UK tour), 42nd Street, The Pillowman and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. For the Haymarket Theatre Leicester, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Playboy of the Western World, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Plough and the Star, Dolly West's Kitchen, Richard III, Breaking the Code, East, Edward II and Single Spies. Later this season he will direct Hello Dolly! and Piaf. Kerryson has directed works by the world's greatest composers including Rogers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, Jerry Herman, William Finn, and has enjoyed a celebrated, close creative relationship with the works of Stephen Sondheim. He has directed for Chichester Festival Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Manchester Library Theatre and the Dublin Gaiety.

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