Frances Ruffelle and Matt Rawle are to star in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s festive production of Pippin from 22 November.
Pippin, a 1972 musical by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), is a coming of age tale about the heir to the throne of Charlemagne, who is searching for beauty, glory and fame but has to contend with sex, war, politics and religion.
The title role will be played by Harry Hepple, last seen in the Donmar Warehouse’s production of The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee.
Ruffelle, who plays Fastrada, is a recording artist and musical theatre star who created the role of Eponine in the original cast of Les Misérables, going on to recreate her performance on Broadway. Since then Ruffelle’s stage credits have included Starlight Express, Children Of Eden and Chicago in the West End, and the Les Misérables 25th anniversary concert at the O2. In 2010 she returned to the West End with her solo show Beneath The Dress, a transfer from the Edinburgh Festival.
Rawle’s West End stage credits include Zorro, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award, and the role of Che in the 2006 revival of Evita, while he was most recently seen in the Rose theatre, Kingston’s production of The Three Musketeers.
They are joined by Ian Kelsey (TV’s Casualty and Emmerdale), who was last seen on stage in Chicago, and Carly Bawden, who appeared in the recent production of The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg.
The Menier Chocolate Factory will be hoping its Christmas show can live up to the success of previous musicals at the venue, including Sunday In The Park With George, A Little Night Music, Sweet Charity and La Cage Aux Folles, all of which have transferred to the West End.
CB