Photo Flash: 'Marguerite' in Rehearsal

The final production in Jonathan Kent's Theatre Royal Haymarket Season will be the world premiere of MARGUERITE a new musical with music by Michel Legrand, book by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Jonathan Kent, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer - original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and orchestrations and arrangements by Michel Legrand and Seann Alderking. Choreography is by Arthur Pita and Musical Staging is by Nikki Woollaston.  MARGUERITE will run at the Haymarket from 7 May, with press night on 20 May.  Designs are by Paul Brown, with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Groothuis who have all collaborated with Kent throughout the season.  MARGUERITE is produced internationally by Marguerite Productions, The Theatre Royal Haymarket Company and Bob Boyett.

A love story set in Paris during the Second World War, MARGUERITE draws inspiration from one of the greatest of romantic novels, La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas. Marguerite is the beautiful and notorious mistress of a high ranking German officer.  Armand is a young musician half her age who falls obsessively in love with her.  Their dangerous love story is played out against the background of Occupied Paris.

Ruthie Henshall, the award-winning West End and Broadway actress, returns to the London stage to play the title role alongside Julian Ovenden who will play Armand and Alexander Hanson who will play German officer, Otto.   

Also in the cast is Annalene Beechey (Annette), Mark Carroll, Keiron Crook, Matt Cross (Pierrot), James Doherty, Siubhan Harrison, Jon-Paul Hevey, Joanna Loxton, Jessica Martin, Julia J. Nagle, Duncan Smith, Gay Soper (Chanteuse), Phillip Sutton, Simon Thomas (Lucien), Andrew C Wadsworth (Georges) and LuCy Williamson.

In September last year the newly created Theatre Royal Haymarket Company presented their first season of productions under the direction of Jonathan Kent.  The opening production - William Wycherley's restoration comedy The Country Wife starring David Haig, Patricia Hodge and Toby Stephens – has been followed by Edward Bond's The Sea.  With a cast led by Eileen Atkins and David Haig, The Sea continues its run at the Haymarket until 19 April.

Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HT. Box Office: 0845 481 1870  Websites:  www.marguerite-themusical.com and www.trh.co.uk.  MARGUERITE will perfrom  Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
Tickets are £25.00 - £60.00 plus concessions.

            
            

Ruthie Henshsall (Marguerite)

Ruthie Henshall (Marguerite) and Alex Hanson (Otto)

Ruthie Henshall (Marguerite) and Julian Ovenden (Armand)

Julian Ovenden (Armand) and Ruthie Henshall (Marguerite)

Photos by Tristram Kenton.