Joanna Riding will star in Kneehigh’s production of The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, which will play at the Gielgud theatre this March under the direction of the Cornish company’s Artistic Director Emma Rice.
Kneehigh’s new adaptation of Jacques Demy and Michel Legrand’s musical will open at the Gielgud on 22 March (previews from 5 March) following a limited run at the Curve theatre in Leicester next month. The production, which will be designed by Laurence Olivier Award-winner Lez Brotherston, follows the company’s West End success in 2009 with Brief Encounter which saw the Cineworld Haymarket cinema transformed into a theatre.
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg is based on the 1964 Oscar-nominated film starring Catherine Deneuve. The romantic story centres on 17-year-old Geneviève Emery and her lover Guy Fouchier, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève vow to remain lovers. After discovering she is carrying Guy’s child she must choose between waiting for his return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant. The musical contains songs including the much recorded I Will Wait For You and Watch What Happens.
Riding will lead the cast as Madame Emery, the mother of Geneviève and owner of a chic umbrella shop. Most recently seen in Billy Elliott The Musical, Riding is a multi-Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress. After appearing in Me And My Girl in the West End, Riding was cast in the National Theatre’s 1993 production of Carousel. Since then her extensive credits have included My Fair Lady and The Witches Of Eastwick at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Guys And Dolls and A Little Night Music at the National and plays at the Royal Court and the Lyric Hammersmith.
Riding is joined in the cast by cabaret artist Meow Meow who specialises in kamikaze cabaret and performance art exotica and won the 2010 Edinburgh International Festival Fringe Prize for her show Feline Intimate. Her work as a cabaret artist has seen her perform at the Carnegie Hall and across America, as well as performing at the Soho theatre in London and in the popular variety show La Clique.
Carly Bawden and Andrew Durand both make their West End debuts as the fated lovers. Bawden has appeared on tours of Whistle Down The Wind and Evita, while American actor Durand has appeared on Broadway in Spring Awakening.
The cast is completed by Gareth Charlton, Cynthia Erivo, Dominic Marsh, Aki Omoshaybi, and ensemble members Laura Brydon and Matt Wilman.
Director Rice has previously worked on productions including the award-winning Red Shoes, The Wooden Frock and Don John for Kneehigh. Described as a ‘local theatre company’, the innovative company are based in Cornwall and aim to produce daring theatre that pushes the boundaries of their art.
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, which is currently booking to 1 October, follows Yes, Prime Minister which finishes its run at the Gielgud theatre this Saturday.
CM