Photo Flash: West End's ONCE Charity Gala - New Cast, Celebs & More!

Last night (17 March 20134) the six-time Olivier award nominated musical Once celebrated its first birthday in the West End, joining forces with the charity Oxfam specifically fundraising for their Mother Appeal. Also celebrating St Patrick's Day, the production welcomed their new cast led by Arthur Darvill, who joins the London production having played the role on Broadway. Darvill plays opposite Zrinka Cviteši? as Girl. Check out the photos below!

VIP guests were Laura Bailey, Michael Ball, Tim Bevan, Lydia Bright, Barbara Broccoli, Maryam D'Abo, Eliza Doolittle, Eric Fellner, Mark Forster, Amy Gadney, Goldie, Jane Horrocks, Hugh Hudson, Alfie Hudson Taylor, Mark Knopfler, Penny Lancaster, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Dame Jenni Murray, Jennifer Saunders, Rod Stewart and Michael G Wilson.

Once director John Tiffany and designer Bob Crowley were also in attendance.

In January over 400,000 new tickets were released for sale, taking bookings at the Phoenix Theatre to 4 July 2015. Directed by John Tiffany, Once opened at the Phoenix Theatre in April last year where it has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike.

Darvill and Cviteši? are joined by Fiona Bruce (Baruska), Jamie Cameron (Emcee) Mark Carlisle(Da), Matthew Ganley (Svec), Mathew Hamper (Andre), Daniel Healy (Eamon), Loren O'Dair (Reza),Miria Parvin (Ex-girlfriend), Tim Prottey-Jones (Billy), and Jez Unwin (Bank Manager). Alternating the role of Girl's young daughter Ivanka will be Juliana Cotton, Demi Lee, Gemma Loader and Ruby Payne.

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 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. Once won the 2013 Grammy award for Best Musical Theatre album. The Martin Guitar Company is the proud sponsor ofOnce.

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.

Website: Oncemusical.co.uk

Facebook: OnceMusicalLondon

Twitter: OnceMusicalLDN

Youtube: OnceMusicalLondon

Photo Credit: Dan Wooller

To post a comment, you must register and login.