Bennett To Join EASTENDERS After Leaving ONCE!

The current cast of Once, led by Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cviteši? as Guy and Girl respectively, will continue until 8 March 2014. Bennett will then go on to join the cast of EastEnders, where he will play Charlie Cotton, Dot's grandson.

Bennett said: "In April last year I began what has been an incredible journey at The Phoenix Theatre playing the role of Guy in Once. This job has given me one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I will only have fond memories and great recollections of my time in the show. I am very excited to be embarking on a very different path in my career moving from stage to screen playing Charlie Cotton in the iconic BBC TV Soap EastEnders. I, of course, will miss treading the boards in the West End, but I am very much looking forward inhabiting my new East End role. I wish the new Once cast as much enjoyment and pleasure as I have experienced throughout my time with the show."

Later this week, on Friday 24 January 2014, over 400,000 new tickets will be released for sale, taking bookings at The Phoenix Theatre to 4 July 2015. The eight time Tony award-winning musical, directed by John Tiffany, opened at The Phoenix Theatre in April last year where it has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike.

Once has book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh. Based on the 2007 motion picture written and directed by John Carney, music and lyrics are by Academy Award® winningGlen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who, for Falling Slowly, won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Scenic and costume designs are by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Clive Goodwin, musical supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe and movement by Steven Hoggett. Once won the 2013 Grammy award for Best Musical Theatre album. The Martin Guitar Company is the proud sponsor of Once.

Based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film, Once is a celebration of love, friendship and music. When an Irish busker and a young Czech mother meet through a shared love of music, their songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, longing romance that neither of them could have expected.

Once was originally developed at the American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in April 2011. A developmental run of Once at New York Theatre Workshop began performances in November 2011. The production went on to break box office records and concluded a sold out engagement including a two week extension. The Broadway production of Once continues at the Bernard B. Jacob's Theatre and the North American tour began last Autumn. The Oscar winning independent Irish film was shot in 17 days and was made for $150,000. It went on to gross $20m worldwide becoming a critically acclaimed international smash.

The original cast recording of Once is available via Masterworks Broadway, a label of Sony Masterworks -www.MasterworksBroadway.com

The Producers of the West End production are Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and Michael Rose Limited in association with New York Theatre Workshop.

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