Scarlett Strallen Leads SHE LOVE ME at Menier This Christmas

Scarlett Strallen will return to the Menier Chocolate Factory to lead the company of SHE LOVES ME this Christmas. The production reunites Strallen with director Matthew White, following their previous collaboration at the Menier on Candide. The production opens on 7 December, with previews from 25 November, and runs until 5 March 2017.

Meet Amalia and Georg, who work as clerks in Maraczek's Parfumerie -- and aren't exactly the best of friends. However, they have something in common. They both rapturously write to romantic pen pals. Despite the anonymity of their secret admirers, they live for the love letters that they exchange and the day they will finally meet. This enduring love story has been the basis for the films The Shop around the Corner and You've Got Mail. The musical version - written by the authors of Fiddler on the Roof - has delighted audiences since its 1963 Broadway premier and features a sparkling score that includes now-classic songs Ice Cream and A Trip to the Library.

Scarlett Strallen returns to the Menier to play Amalia - she previously appeared as Cunegonde in Candide for the company. Her other theatre work includes The Pirates of Penzance (Barrington Stage Company), A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Walter Kerr Theater, Broadway), Macbeth (Park Avenue Armory, New York), A Chorus Line (London Palladium),Singin' in the Rain (Chichester Festival Theatre and Palace Theatre), Passion (Donmar Warehouse), Mary Poppins (New Amsterdam Theatre, Broadway and Prince Edward Theatre), The Music Man (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC), HMS Pinafore and Twelfth Night (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Palladium),Peggy Sue Got Married (Shaftesbury Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Drury Lane), Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward Theatre) and Aspects of Love (Prince of Wales Theatre). For television, her work includes No Sweat; and for film, Beyond the Sea andThe Snow Queen

Matthew White returns to the Menier - he previously directed Candide, Sweet Charity (also Haymarket Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (also Duke of York's Theatre), and The Last Five Years for the company. His other theatre work includes West Side Story (Kilworth House), The Producers (UK tour), Top Hat (also adapted for the stage, UK tour and Aldwych Theatre - Olivier Award for Best New Musical), Maria Friedman - By Special Arrangement (Donmar Warehouse), Closer than Ever (Jermyn Street Theatre), and Mr Stink (also adapted, Curve and UK tour).

Tickets go on sale to the Menier Chocolate Factory supporters at 9am on Monday 5 September, with public booking opening at 9am on Wednesday 14 September.

www.menierchocolatefactory.com