Imagine This, a new musical set in Poland during the Second World War, is to have its West End premiere at the New London theatre on 19 November, after previews from 4 November.
Set in Poland in 1942, Imagine This centres on a group of actors in the Warsaw Ghetto who stage plays to inspire hope and optimism within their community. However, with rumours of the Final Solution in the air, their play merges with the reality they are trying to escape, and a dramatic love story unfolds.
The musical, which has book and lyrics by Glenn Berenbeim and David Goldsmith to a score by Shuki Levy, began life at Theatre Royal Plymouth last year, where it was staged by director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Adam Cooper, with a cast including Annette McLaughlin (Chicago) and Stephen Ashfield (Jersey Boys).
Sheader, who this year began his first season as Artistic Director of the Open Air theatre, Regent’s Park, returns to direct the West End production of Imagine This, which has choreography by Liam Steel, design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Tim Mitchell, orchestrations by Chris Walker and musical supervision by Phil Bateman. No casting has yet been confirmed.
The New London is currently dark after the early closure of epic musical Gone With The Wind. The Trevor Nunn-directed show opened there in April and closed prematurely on 14 June.
CB