Photo Coverage: Glen Hansard Visits West End ONCE

Glen Hansard, Academy Award winner and co-writer of the music and lyrics for Once, visited The Phoenix Theatre to meet with Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cviteši?, the leading actors in the critically acclaimed West End production.

Glen Hansard said: "I've seen this production of Once a couple of times now both in Dublin and now in London and it's fascinating to watch the work in the hands of this cast. They've taken it and given it their own voice and brought it somewhere original and individual. This cast lean in to each other and sing together, without anyone ever stepping on each other's toes - a great band knows how to play together, nobody trying to outplay or out sing their fellow musicians. I truly wish them the best in taking this chapter of the story forward and I am proud to leave these songs in their capable hands and voices."

Following a sold out run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, Once began previews in the West End in March this year. The production which has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike 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 winning Glen 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. The Martin Guitar Companyis 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.

Glen Hansard, the Irish songwriter, actor, guitarist for The Frames and one half of folk rock duo The Swell Season won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Falling Slowly', co written with his Once co-star Markéta Irglova. Hansard's film credits are The Commitments and Once. His albums include Strict Joy, the Academy Award winning soundtrack of Once, The Swell Season, The Cost, Burn the Maps, Set List: Live inDublin, For the Birds, Dance the Devil, Fitzcarraldo and Another Love Song.

The Once West End cast comprises Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cviteši? as Guy and Girl respectively, joined byValda Aviks, Ryan Fletcher, AiDan Kelly, Gareth O'Connor, Michael O'Connor, Miria Parvin, Jos Slovick, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Jez Unwin and Gabriel Vick. Alternating the role of Girl's young daughter Ivanka will be Poppy-Lily Baker, Mia-Jai Bryan, Pacha Anna Green and Nancy Ann Jeans.

Having received the most nominations (35) in the 2012 theatre award season, Once went on to become the recipient of 21 awards, the most on Broadway that year. As well as winning eight Tony awards including Best New Musical, Once was named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards. The Broadway cast recording of Once was named Best Musical Theater Album in the 2013 Grammy Awards. The New York production of Once, the fastest Broadway musical to recoup in 16 years, opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in March 2012 where it continues to break box office records.Once will begin a US national tour launched by The Road Company this summer.

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 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 and the soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

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.