It has been announced that the popular musical based on the hit film will begin performances at the Criterion Theatre from the 20th May.
Following a run at the Watermill Theatre, a UK tour and Christmas season at The Other Palace, Amelie the Musical will be making its West End debut at the Criterion Theatre for an initially socially distanced run.
The Grammy and Olivier Award nominated show is based on the five time Oscar nominated film and is set to see Audrey Brisson (The Elephantom, Pinocchio and Pericles, The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk and The Grinning Man) reprising her role as the title character.
Amélie secretly improvises small, but extraordinary acts of kindness discovering the possibilities around every corner and bringing happiness to those she encounters. When a chance at love comes her way, Amélie realises that to find her own contentment she’ll have to risk everything and say what’s in her heart. Experience this beautiful story and be inspired by this imaginative dreamer who discovers her voice, uncovers the power of human connection and sees possibility around every corner.
Amelie the Musical features music by Hem’s Daniel Messé, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Daniel Messé and book by Craig Lucas.
Directed by Michael Fentiman, the creative team behind the musical includes: designs by Madeleine Girling, with musical supervision and arrangements by Barnaby Race, movement direction by Tom Jackson Greaves, lighting design by Elliot Griggs, sound design by Tom Marshall, puppet design and construction by Dik Downey and musical direction, additional orchestrations and arrangements by Samuel Wilson.
Meanwhile, the full cast for the production is set to include: Sioned Saunders as ‘Gina’, Flora Spencer-Longhurst as ‘Georgette’ / ‘Sylvie’, Rachel Dawson as ‘Amandine’ / ‘Philomene’, Oliver Grant as ‘Lucien’ / ‘Mysterious Man’, Chris Jared as ‘Nino Quincampoix’, Caolan McCarthy as ‘Hippolito’ / ‘Elton John’, Samuel Morgan-Grahame as ‘Joseph’ / ‘Fluffy’, Kate Robson-Stuart as ‘Suzanne’, Jack Quarton as ‘Blind Beggar’, Jez Unwin as Raphael / Bretodeau and Johnson Willis as Collignon / Dufayel . Nuwan Hugh Perera, Miiya Alexandra, Robyn Sinclair and Matthew James Hinchliffe complete the ensemble.
In making this announcement, the producers have confirmed that all current government guidelines will be adhered to in terms of Covid security, and they will keep them under constant review. The seating plan at the Criterion has been designed to facilitate social distancing. The box office system is responsive to demand and will automatically auto-distance seats during the booking process to ensure a minimum one metre space between patrons until such a time that social distancing is no longer a legal requirement.
Talking about the news, Louis Hartshorn, CEO of Hartshorn-Hook Productions, said, “Amélie is about kindness, distance and human connection, and resonates deeply with what we have all been through over the last year. We’re very excited to be bringing this beautiful production to the West End and contributing to the reopening of the theatre industry. We thank the Arts Council and DCMS for the support of the Culture Recovery Fund and our hard working producing and creative teams for their passionate and careful work to bring our shows back to the stage.”
Amelie the Musical is booking at the Criterion Theatre from the 20th May until the 25th September. Tickets are available by visiting: https://ameliethemusical.com/