Producers have confirmed casting for the new production of Tim Rice’s musical comedy Blondel, which arrives at the Union Theatre from the 21st June.
It has been announced that Connor Arnold will be taking on the title role of Blondel in Sasha Regan’s production of the musical. Arnold’s previous credits include Silent Witness (BBC1) and Catch Me at the Arts Theatre.
Meanwhile, he will be joined in the cast by Courtney Bowman ,Michael Burgen Lauren Byrne, David Fearn , Ryan Hall, Oliver Marshall, Jessie May, Katie Meller ,Calum Melville , Neil Moors, Craig Nash, Michaela Stern, James Thackeray and Jay Worthy.
When King Richard announces that he’s off on a Middle East Crusade to give Saladin a piece of his mind (and sword), the struggling court musician Blondel is forced to stay behind to write songs in praise of the King’s evil – and ambitious – brother, Prince John. Worse still, Blondel is separated from his sweetheart Fiona, who has been press-ganged into the King’s of cial crusade dry cleaning dept. However when Richard is captured by the murky – and rather cunning – Duke of Austria (just before the interval), Blondel decides to embark upon a pan- European adventure to save his King, Fiona, and England.
Talking about bringing the show to London, Tim Rice said: “I’m delighted Blondel is returning to the stage. It was one of the most enjoyable projects of my career, and I’ve always felt Stephen Oliver’s wonderful music deserved a larger audience than it reached back in 1983 when the show first ran. I hope this new production at the terrific Union Theatre will please old fans and find some new ones.”
Blondel originally premiered in the West End in 1983, starring Paul Nicholas and was the first time that Tim Rice wrote a musical with a composer other than Andrew Lloyd Webber following hits with Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.
The creative team for this production includes choreography by Christopher Whittaker, designs by Ryan Dawson, lighting by Iain Dennis and musical direction by Simon Holt. It is produced by Aaron Rogers and Sasha Regan for Union Theatre and Donald Rice for Heartaches Limited.
Blondel will play at the Union Theatre from the 21st June until the 25th July. For more information visit: http://www.uniontheatre.biz/blondel.html