Initial Casting Revealed For AMELIE at Watermill Theatre, Newbury

French-Canadian stage and screen star Audrey Brisson is confirmed to play the iconic altruist Amélie Poulain in the UK's first musical adaptation of the much-loved, five-time Oscar-nominated film. Telling the story of the imaginative and shy romantic with a gift for helping others, Amélie The Musical will tour the UK in a vibrant, re-conception of the production with new orchestrations.

The production will open with a press night on Wednesday 17 April, 7.30pm at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury. Further casting is yet to be announced.

Amélie is the story of an astonishing young woman who lives quietly in the world, but loudly in her mind. She secretly improvises small, but extraordinary acts of kindness that bring happiness to those around her. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amélie realises that to find her own contentment she'll have to risk everything and say what's in her heart. Although times are hard for dreamers, Amélie is someone to believe in...

Audrey Brisson said: "Bonjour, je m'appelle Audrey Brisson et c'est avec un immense plaisir que je m'apprête à jouer le rôle d'Amelie Poulain. That is to say, I am really looking forward to sharing this journey filled with imagination and quirkiness that Amélie will concoct for us. Until then, à bientôt. (Have a raspberry on me!)"

Audrey Brisson's theatre credits include: The Elephantom, Pinocchio and Pericles (National Theatre), Midnight's Pumpkin and The Wild Bride (Kneehigh), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Kensington Gardens), Dead Dog in a Suitcase & Other Love Songs (Kneehigh), Romeo and Juliet (Rose Theatre, Kingston), The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (Kneehigh), The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic), The Strada (UK Tour & The Other Palace). Her film credits include: Hereafter directed by Clint Eastwood and W.E. directed by Madonna. Television includes: Outlander (Amazon), Money (BBC Two). Radio includes the title role in Amy Dorrit (BBC Radio).

Audrey trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She also studied Classical Singing at Cegep St-Laurent, Canada. As a child and teenager, Audrey worked extensively with Cirque du Soleil as a vocalist and acrobat. She performed in their international tours of Reinvente, Quidamand and the Cirque du Soleil 30th Anniversary Concert.

With music by Hem's Daniel Messé, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Daniel Messé and book by Craig Lucas, this new musical adaptation of the five-time Oscar-nominated film written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant, will be directed by Michael Fentiman.

The original film, Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie Poulain, was released in 2001, starring Audrey Tautou and Matthieu Kassovitz. Taking over $33 million in a limited theatrical release, it is to date the highest-grossing French-language film released in the United States, and one of the biggest international successes for a French film. Amélie won Best Film at the European Film Awards, four César Awards in 2002 (including Best Film and Best Director), two BAFTA Awards (including Best Original Screenplay), and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best foreign language film.

Amélie The Musical was first staged in California in 2015 and was described as an 'enchanting act of theatrical reinvention' (The Los Angeles Times).

When the UK tour concludes in September 2019 Amélie The Musical will tour internationally, with dates to be announced.

Amélie The Musical is a Watermill Theatre production in association with Hartshorn-Hook Productions, Selladoor Worldwide and Broadway Asia.

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