Casting has been revealed for the London premiere of five-time Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home at the Young Vic.
Kaisa Hammarlund, who was recently nominated for a UK Theatre Award for Sweet Charity at Exchange Theatre Manchester, will lead the cast as Alison, whose memories of family life Fun Home centres upon. Eleanor Kane (Assassins) will play Medium Alison.
Stage favourite and Olivier Award-winner Jenna Russell (Sunday In The Park With George, West End) will play Helen, with Ashley Samuels (Motown The Musical) as Roy, Mark and Jeremy; Cherrelle Skeete (Harry Potter And The Cursed Child) as Joan; and Zubin Varla (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Globe) as Bruce, Alison’s father.
Based on Alison Bechdel’s brilliant 2006 graphic novel, Fun Home explores the memories of Alison’s uniquely complicated family at three different stages in her life – her volatile, brilliant, enigmatic father, mother and brothers – that connect with her in surprising new ways. Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.
Playing at the Young Vic from 18 June, Fun Home marks director Sam Gold’s West End debut. Gold previously directed the musical on Broadway, where the show won five Tony Awards in 2015. It is the final show in David Lan’s last season as Artistic Director of the Young Vic.
Casting for Small Alison, John and Christian will be announced at a later date.
The London premiere is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Fox Theatricals and Barbara Whitman. Choreography is by Danny Mefford, set and costume design by David Zinn, light by Ben Stanton, sound by Kai Harada, music supervision by Chris Fenwick, music direction by Nigel Lilley and casting by Julia Horan CDG.
Fun Home will play until 1 September, with tickets available through the Young Vic website.