Richard E Grant To Play Kraken In WATER BABIES, From Apr 24

Richard E Grant will play Kraken: Lord of the Oceans - in a 3D hologram interactive scene in the world première of the new musical Water Babies. Directed by Ed Curtis, with music by Chris Egan, and book and lyrics by Ed Curtis and Guy Jones, this enthralling new musical, with landmark special effects, will open on 6 May, with previews from the 24 April, and run until 17 May. Cementing its reputation for staging major new musicals, Curve sets Water Babies on its journey.

Richard E Grant will appear "as live" on stage interacting with the real actors in a never seen before 3D hologram effect - a first for a theatrical production. Using a combination of cutting edge technology and traditional theatre illusion this effect allows live actors to perform alongside filmed sequences.

The full company is led by Louise Dearman (Mrs D), Tom Lister (Eel/Grimes), Thomas Milner (Tom) and Lauren Samuels (Ellie), with a special appearance by Richard E Grant (Kraken). They are joined by Robbie Boyle (Water Baby), Matthew Caputo (Water Baby), Georgia Carling (Water Baby), Jorell Coiffic-Kamall (Water Baby), Tom Davey (Claude), Caroline Deverill (Lady Amelia), Matthew Gent (Masterman), Andy Gray (Jock), Jeffrey Harmer (Sir John), Cristina Hoey (Water Baby), Samuel Holmes (Terrence), Rebecca Jayne-Davies (Ariadne), Sienna Kelly (Miller), Marianna Neofitou (Water Baby), Morgan Scott (Water Baby), Marcquelle Ward (Rafferty).

Tom, our orphaned teenage hero, is framed for a crime he didn't commit. In a desperate attempt to escape capture he is trapped on the edge of a waterfall. His only choice is to jump. Awakening in the depths of the ocean he encounters the mysterious Mrs D, and a whole new world of enchantment, danger and adventure.

Desperate to get back to the girl he loves Tom must brave underwater challenges in a world beyond his wildest imagination. Together with the unlikeliest of friends he embarks on a quest to find a way back to land. However he soon finds it's not just his fate he holds in his hands, but also that of the mysterious and elusive gang of Water Babies.

It's time for Tom to face his worst fears...it's time to believe in himself and that anything is possible.

Inspired by Charles Kingsley's much-loved novel, this spellbinding new production uses some of the most sophisticated special effects ever seen on stage.

Enter a breathtaking underwater world of magic and adventure in this funny, touching and unforgettable new musical.

Charles Kingsley's 1863 Victorian morality tale is a literary classic. A fantasy, which 'you should not believe a word of... even if it is true'. Producer Peter Shaw's 1978 film The Water Babies with James Mason, Billie Whitelaw and David Tomlinson opened the story up and liberated it to a wide family audience. It was his intention for some time to reimagine it for the stage. This brand new musical whilst retaining the magic of the original story, takes it into entirely new territory, defying audience expectation.

Richard E Grant is one of Britain's leading actors. His work in theatre includes The Importance of Being Earnest, God of Carnage, Otherwise Engaged, The Play What I Wrote, A Midsummer's Night Dream, My Fair Lady, Tramway Road and The Merry Wives of Windsor. He has appeared in over 80 films and television programs such as Dom Hemingway, Withnail And I, How To Get Ahead In Advertising, The Player, Dracula, LA Story, Age Of Innocence, Pret A Porter, Gosford Park, Spiceworld, The Little Vampire, Christmas Carol, Scarlet Pimpernel, The Corpse Bride, The Iron Lady, Doctor Who, The Fear, Girls and the fifth series of Downton Abbey. He also wrote and directed the 2005 drama film WAH-WAH.

Louise Dearman plays Mrs D. After graduating from Laine and receiving their Musical Theatre and Opera Award, Dearman joined the touring cast of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the The Narrator. Soon after, she played Jan in the UK tour of Grease, later returning to the role at the Palace Theatre. She went on to play Sarah Brown in the national tour of Guys and Dolls, Mimi in the Donmar Warehouse's production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre, Lucy Harris in the UK tour of Jekyll and Hyde; she also performed abroad in Cyprus when she played Grizabella in Cats. In 2007, she played the part of Debbie at the Edinburgh Festival's production of Debbie Does Dallas. After playing Eva Peron in the tour of the production of Evita, Dearman first appeared in Wicked at the Apollo Theatre, and has taken on both leading roles of Glinda and Elphaba. Dearman also joined composer Scott Alan in his concert, Simply The Music Of Scott Alan in the West End and in New York. Next month will see her release her third album, In Time, a companion to her forthcoming tour in 2014 of the same name.

Perhaps best known for his role as series regular Carl King in Emmerdale, Tom Lister makes his musical theatre debut. His other theatre credits include Ralph in Accrington Pals (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Titus/Fool in Bill Shakespeare's Italian Job (Gilded Balloon - Edinburgh), Pan in Love's Mistress (Globe Theatre) and Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Settle Festival of Theatre).

Thomas Milner plays Tom. He recently appeared in Soho Cinders at Soho Theatre; and for television, he has appeared in Barking, and as series regular Paul Langley in Waterloo Road.

Lauren Samuels returns to Curve where she made her professional debut playing Wendy in Peter Pan The Musical. Following her success on the Andrew Lloyd's Webber's Over the Rainbow (BBC1), she made her West End debut as Sandy in the hit musical Grease (Piccadilly Theatre). She then starred as Scaramouche in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) and on its 10th Anniversary World Arena Tour. Other theatre credits include Cathy inThe Last 5 Years (Tabard), Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Cyprus), Yonah in The Children of Eden (Gala Performance, Prince of Wales), and the title role in Vampirette (Manchester Opera House).

Ed Curtis and Guy Jones' writing credits include Marlon Brando's Corset (UK Tour), and the book for the musical Never Forget (Savoy Theatre, West End). Jones recently adapted Gorky'sThe Lower Depths which was directed by Paines Plough Artistic Director James Grieve at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He also wrote Whispers (Latitude Festival) and The Spinning Wheel (Hiraeth Productions) as well as contributing to Paines Plough's Come To Where I'm From.

As a director Ed Curtis' credits include I Dreamed a Dream (UK tour), Jolson & Company (UK tour), Never Forget (Savoy Theatre and UK tour), Marlon Brando's Corset (UK tour) and the Perrier nominated Conspiracy (Pleasance, Edinburgh and UK tour).

Chris Egan has worked in all genres of music as a composer, arranger & orchestrator. For theatre, his work includes The Bodyguard (West End), The Pajama Game (Chichester), Kiss Me Kate (West End), End Of The Rainbow (Broadway, West End, US Tour),Crazy For You (West End), Witches Of Eastwick (UK Tour, Worldwide),Never Forget (West End & UK Tour), The Wedding Singer (UK Tour), Grease (West End, Worldwide Tour), Daddy Cool (West End & European Tour), Footloose (West End, UK Tour, South Africa), Love Shack (UK Tour) and Calamity Jane (West End). His extensive work for television includes Upstairs Downstairs, Queens Diamond Jubilee, The Tony Awards, Royal Variety Performance, BBC Proms In The Park, and Prince's Trust 30th Anniversary Concert. As well as his radio work, he has written arrangements for artists including Lionel Richie, Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga, Phil Ramone, Michael Ball, Robin Gibb, and Shirley Bassey.