Photo Flash: First Look at JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS at Charing Cross Theatre

West End stars Gina Beck, Daniel Boys, David Burt and Eve Polycarpou are starring in a major new production of the hit revue Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at Charing Cross Theatre for a strictly limited season from Thursday 16 October - Saturday 22 November. Press night is Saturday 18 October at 7.45pm

Often haunting, sometimes funny, heart- wrenching and vividly poetic, the songs of Belgian Jacques Brel - from Jackie and Amsterdam to Ne Me Quitte Pasand Carousel - explore the human condition through honest storytelling, with themes of joy and sorrow, love and loss, war and peace and life and death.

Directed by Andrew Keates, whose acclaimed production of Dessa Rose has just finished a sellout run at Trafalgar Studios, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a musical revue of the greatest works by one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of all time, with what are

regarded as the definitive English translations of his works by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman and fresh orchestral arrangements by Eric Svejcar from the award-winning 2006 Off Broadway production. That production was the longest running and most successful revival of the show, nominated for several awards including the Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle.

Award-winning Daniel Boys became a household name while appearing on BBC's Any Dream Will Do in 2007. Since then he has starred in several West End musicals including three years playing the central character of Princeton/Rod in Avenue Q (winning him a Whatsonstage Award) and as Sir Lancelot inSpamalot. He has just starred as Oliver Barrett IV in Love Story at Bolton Octagon. His other major roles include Captain Walker in Tommy (Prince Edward), Mike in High Society (UK tour), Judas in the 40th Anniversary concert of Godspell (Palace Theatre, Manchester), Mark in Rent (European tour) and Anthony inSweeney Todd (Royal Festival Hall).

Olivier Award-nominated David Burt is one of the West End's most respected and in-demand leading men. He has appeared in dozens of notable West End productions, including playing Enjolras in the original cast of LES MISERABLES, Magaldi in the original cast of Evita, Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar and Count Fosco in The Woman in White. David's other credits include Cats, Chess, The Far Pavilions, Closer to Heaven, Taboo and Kiss Me, Kate, as well as seasons at the National Theatre and RSC. He was nominated for a Best Actor Olivier Award for his performance as Macheath in the RSC's The Beggar's Opera.

Gina Beck recently starred as Glinda in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, West End and on the US national tour. Prior to that she appeared in the critically acclaimed The Belle's Strategem at Southwark Playhouse and as Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in Kuala Lumpa. Other recent credits include The Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena. In September 2010 she completed two years in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera playing Christine.

Eve Polycarpou recently starred in the central role of Abuela Claudia in the UK premiere of In The Heights (for which she was nominated for an OFFIE Best Actress Award) at Southwark Playhouse. Her other major roles include Mother Courage and Her Children (Manchester Library Theatre Company), The Bacchae and Palace of the End (Manchester Royal Exchange), and Threepenny Opera (National Theatre). She received awards as 'Manchester Evening News Best Actress of the Year' and the 'Amnesty International award for freedom of expression', given for her impressive body of work at Manchester Royal Exchange.

Photos by Scott Rylander

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