KNIGHTS OF THE ROSE Announces First Casting

Romance of the Rose Productions announces the first casting for the new West End musical Knights of the Rose. Directed by Racky Plews and created by Jennifer Marsden, Knights of the Rose opens on 29th June for 9 weeks only at The Arts Theatre. Leading the noble Knights is Adam Pearce (King Aethelstan) who is joined by Chris Cowley (Palamon), Oliver Saville (Hugo), Rebecca Bainbridge (Queen Matilda / Bess), Rebekah Lowings (Isabel), Matt Thorpe (Horatio), Ruben van Keer (John), Katie Birtill (Hannah) and Bleu Woodward (Emily). Ian Gareth-Jones, Kelly Hampson and Tom Bales make up the ensemble.

KNIGHTS OF THE ROSE is a classic rock musical of Shakespearean proportions. Featuring the ultimate playlist including legendary ballads and timeless anthems from Bon Jovi, Muse, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, No Doubt and many more. In this epic tale of love, betrayal and sacrifice, the noble Knights of the Rose must defend their House and their honour. Even as the chivalrous Knights return from a glorious victory, a greater threat against the kingdom stirs. As they face the greatest battle of the Age, and betrayal threatens to tear them apart, can true love and honour triumph? Woven from a rich tapestry of literature and high-voltage classic rock, this heroic new story charges its way into the heart of London this Summer.

Cast announced:

KING AETHELSTAN: Adam Pearce - Training: The Guildford School of Acting. Theatre includes: Max Von Meyerling in Sunset Boulevard (UK Tour), Understudied and Played Javert and Thenardier in Les Miserables (Queens), Officer Barrel & Understudied and Played Cladwell in Original UK & London Cast Urinetown (St James), created the role Octavius Crabbe and Understudied Ignacio in the Original cast ofThe Light Princess (National), Understudy Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd (Adelphi and Chichester Festival Theatre), Created the role of Squelch in the Original cast of Love Never Dies (Adelphi), A Tale Of Two Cities (Brighton Theatre Royal), Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Adelphi), Evita (Adelphi), Alice in Wonderland (West Yorkshire Playhouse) Aladdin (Milton Keynes & Richmond Theatres). Film include: The Current War (Weinstein Company) Les Miserables (Working Title)

HUGO: Oliver Saville - Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre includes: Vocalist (Lead) in I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical (West End), Robert in Company (AAC), Fiyero in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre), Max in The Navigator (Phoenix Theatre), Wayne in LMTO's State Fair (Cadogan Hall), 1st Cover Raoul in Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's Theatre), The Rum Tum Tugger in CATS (No1 UK Tour), Fueilly/1st Cover Enjolras in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre), Peter Tork in Monkee Business (UK tour), 1st Cover Sky in Mamma Mia! (World Internatioal Tour), Price Charming in Sleeping Beauty(Theatre Royal Wakefield), Simeon/1st cover Joseph in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (UK tour). TV include: Enjolras in Les Miserables (ITV Oliviers 2014) The Rum Tum Tugger in CATS (ITV Oliviers 2013)

PALAMON: Chris Cowley - Training: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Theatre includes: Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (The English Theatre Frankfurt), Fiyero in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre), Jamie in The Last Five Years (New Wolsey, Ipswich), Enjolras in Les Mis (Queens Theatre), Barricade Boys (UK Tour)

QUEEN MATILDA / BESS: Rebecca Bainbridge - Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre includes: Oranges and Elephants (Hoxton Hall), Female Musician in The Terrible Infants (Wiltons Music Hall), Various roles in Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales for Young and Old (The Ditch), u/s Donna Sheridan, Tanya & Rosie in Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales & Novello Theatre), Rita in Partners in Crime(Queens Theatre), Queen of Hearts in Alice's Adventures Underground (The Vaults), Pam, The Knife Throwers Assistant in The Vaudevillains (The Lowry & Charing Cross Theatre), Paula in The Goodbye Girl(Gatehouse), Kath Casey in Our House (New Wolsey Theatre and UK tour), Nurse Flinn and Sandra in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Leicester Curve), Gladys Pugh in Hi De Hi! (UK Tour), Cabaret (Lyric Theatre & West End Cast Recording), Tonight's the Night (UK Tour), Jailhouse Rock (Piccadilly Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (European Tours), Buddy (UK & European Tours), Cinderella (Liverpool Playhouse), Mother Goose (Liverpool Everyman)

EMILY: Bleu Woodward - Training: Laine Theatre Arts. Theatre includes: Nicola in Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre), The Girl in Blues in the Night (London Hippodrome Casino), Alice Russell in Lizzie (Frederica Teater, Denmark and Greenwich Theatre), Diva in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (UK tour and New Zealand), u/s Nicola in the original London cast of Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre); Oh! What a Lovely War directed by Terry Johnson (Theatre Royal Stratford East and UK tour); Penny Pingleton in Hairspray (Macau); South Pacific directed by Bartlett Sher (Barbican and UK tour); Lisa and u/s Sophie in Mamma Mia! (International tour)

JOHN: Ruben van Keer - Training: Royal Academy of Music and the Tilburg Conservatoire (Netherlands). Theatre includes: Strat in Bat Out Of Hell (London Coliseum and also Manchester Opera House), Wolfgang Mozart in Mozart! (Belgium); Bernstein in Dogfight (Netherlands)

HANNAH: Katie Birtill - Training: The Royal Academy of Music. Theatre includes: Cathy in The Last Five Years, Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity (The New Wolsey Theatre), Madeline in By Jeeves (The Old Laundry), and Monique in A Boy Who Fell Into A Book (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Diva in Priscilla Queen of The Desert (UK Tour), Sue in Dreamboats and Petticoats (UK Tour), Sue in Dreamboats and Petticoats Christmas Party (The Broadway Theatre), Nun in The Sound Of Music (Bahrian Festival), Hayley in Jet Set Go! (Theatre 503), Maid Marian in Robin Hood (Marlowe Theatre)

HORATIO: Matt Thorpe - Training: Phil Winstons Theatreworks. Theatre includes: Johnny in American Idiot (UK Tour & The Arts Theatre), Joe Pesci in Jersey Boys (Piccadilly Theatre), Swing and Cover Calileo in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Ensemble in Mamma Mia (Prince of Wales Theatre), Swing and Cover Corny Collins in Hairspray (UK Tour), Swing in High School Musical 2 (UK Tour). Film and TV include: Let It Shine

ISABEL: Rebekah Lowings - Training: GSA. Theatre includes: Featured ensemble/cover Alice in Dick Whittington (London Palladium), Tashtigo in Moby Dick (Union Theatre) Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK and International Tour), Julie in Theory of Relativity (Drayton Arms) Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK tour)

ENSEMBLE / COVER KING AELHESTAN, FRANCIS, PALAMON, GAWAIN: Ian Gareth Jones - Training: Arts Educational School London. Theatre includes: Ensemble U/S Bill and Sam in Mamma Mia (UK Tour); Swing, u/s Frank in Mrs Henderson Presents (Noel Coward Theatre), Ensemble u/s Bill Sikes in Oliver (Leicester Curve), Ensemble in Oklahoma (UK Tour) Resident Director/Dance Captain in South Pacific(Kilworth House Theatre), Tom Jenkins in Scrooge (UK Tour), Ensemble in My Fair Lady (Kilworth House Theatre), u/s Billy Crocker in Anything Goes (Kilworth House Theatre), Swing in Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre London), Ensemble in Guys and Dolls (Kilworth House Theatre), Ensemble in Pirates of Penzance (Kilworth House Theatre), u/s Tom Jenkins in Scrooge (UK Tour), u/s Billy Flynn and Amos in Chicago (UK Tour), Eddie in Mamma Mia (International Tour), u/s Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour), Dance Captain, Lyle, u/s Ren and Willard in Footloose (UK Tour/Novello Theatre/Playhouse Theatre London), Brother Benjamin in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (UK Tour), u/s Wild Bill Hickok in Calamity Jane (UK Tour/ Shaftesbury Theatre London)

ENSEMBLE / COVER QUEEN MATILDA, BESS, EMILY, HANNAH: Kelly Hampson - Training: Guildford School of Acting. Theatre includes: Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, (Leicester Curve/Monaco), Alternate Molly Jenson in Ghost the Musical (UK Tour), Soloist in A Night of Modern Musical Theatre (Battersea Barge) Angelica in Classic Ghost Stories - The Waiting Room (UK Tour)

ENSEMBLE / COVER JOHN, HUGO, HORATIO: Tom Bales - Training: Arts Educational Schools. Theatre includes: Top Hat (Kilworth House), Singin' In The Rain (Grand Palais, Paris), Titanic (ArtsEd)

CREATIVES
Jennifer Marsden - Creator
Racky Plews - Director and Choreographer
Diego Pitarch - Designer
Jennifer Marsden - Creator

Creator, Jennifer Marsden, lives in West Sussex with her husband, Tim, and has three grown up children. She is a qualified Barrister and has always had a keen interest in theatre. Jenny began writing over eight years ago and is a member of Mercury Musical Developments, Musical Theatre Network, and the Inner Temple Inn of Court.

Director and Choreographer Racky Plews is trained at Sylvia Young and Arts Educational Directing and Choreography credits include, Thoroughly Modern Mille (UK Tour), Summer Holiday (UK Tour), American Idiot (West End and UK Tour, winner of Best New Musical in the West End Broadway World Awards, Best Director and Best Choreographer nomination What's On Stage Awards), Footloose (West End and UK Tour), Vanities (Trafalgar Studios, West End), Guys and Dolls, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Into The Woods (The Gatehouse). Racky's choreography credits include, Flight (Symphony of the Seas), Columbus (Harmony of the Seas), Respect La Diva (Garrick Theatre, West End), Jekyll and Hyde (UK Tour), Josephine Baker (The Beckett Theatre, New York), Cougar (The Belgrade, Coventry), Lost Boy (Liverpool Playhouse), West End Bares (Jerry Mitchell/MAD Trust), Denise Pearson - The Jackson's World Tour (UK Arena Tour), Forever Plaid (UK & International Tour), Bare - The Rock Musical (Best Choreography nomination Broadway World), Bernarda Alba, and Once Upon A Mattress (Best Choreographynomination Off West End Awards, The Union Theatre), The 48hour Musicals - The Boy Friend (Her Majesty's Theatre), Crazy For You, and Me & My Girl (London Palladium).

Born in Spain, London based Diego Pitarch studied architecture and Interior Design in Valencia, Barcelona and at the E.S.A.G in Paris, where he obtained an award for Scenography. In 2001 he completed his MA in Theatre Design at the Slade School of Art in London. His design for Katya Kabanova placed him amongst the finalists for the Linbury Prize. Since then Diego has created more than 100 designs for plays, musicals, ballets and operas for renowned theatres and producers worldwide. Successes include Sunset Boulevard in London's West End, Spend, Spend, Spend directed by Craig Revel-Horwood, which won a TMA award for Best Musical in 2009, the 2011 European tour of The Who's Tommy, the 2013 UK and Ireland tour of Fiddler on the Roof starring Paul Michael Glaser as well as the 2017 touring production of The Addams Family and Crazy for You. In 2015 The production of 1984 designed for the Altes Schauspielhaus in Stuttgart was nominated for the prestigious Faust award.

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