News: Amélie the Musical transfers to the West End from May

Critically acclaimed Amélie the Musical is set to transfer to the West End. It will initially play to a socially distanced audience at the Criterion Theatre, with performances beginning 20 May.

First opening at the Watermill Theatre, Amélie enjoyed a sold-out tour in 2019 before a highly successful Christmas season at The Other Palace in 2019. It received a Grammy Award nomination, plus three Olivier Award nominations.

It arrives in the West End this summer, starring  Audrey Brisson (The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, The Grinning Man) in the title role.

Based on the hit film of the same name, the musical sees Amélie secretly improvise small but extraordinary acts of kindness, discovering the possibilities around every corner. When a chance for love comes her way, she realises that in order to find her own contentment, she must risk everything and say what is in her heart.

The show features actor-musicians, with music by Hem’s Daniel Messé, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Messé and book by Craig Lucas. The adaptation is written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant, is directed by Michael Fentiman.

Full cast includes Sioned Saunders (Made in Dagenham) as Gina, Flora Spencer-Longhurst (Once) as Georgette, Rachel Dawson (The Jungle Book UK tour) as Amandine/Philomene, Oliver Grant (War Horse UK tour) as Lucien/Mysterious Man, Chris Jared as Nino Quincampoix, Caolan McCarthy (The Plough and the Stars) as Hippolito/Elton John, Samuel Morgan-Grahame (Sister Act UK tour) as Joseph/Fluffy, Kate Robson-Stuart as Suzanne, Jack Quarton as Blind Beggar, Jez Unwin (Once) as Raphael/Bretodeau and Johnson Willis as Collignon/Dufayel. Nuwan Hugh Perera, Miiya Alexandra, Robyn Sinclair and Matthew James Hinchliffe complete the ensemble.

Amélie the Musical is directed by Michael Fentiman, with design by Madeleine Girling, 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.

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