Tony nominated and Olivier Award-winning actress Jenna Russell will step into the spotlight as Edith Piaf in Pam Gems’ Piaf – the reopening production at Nottingham Playhouse this summer.
Presented by Nottingham Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse, the production which is directed by Nottingham’s artistic director Adam Penford had been due to debut in 2020 with dates planned for both venues.
With some performances remaining on a socially distanced seating plan even if the Government is able to lift compulsory social distancing rules from 21 June as planned, Piaf will now play the Nottingham Playhouse from 2-17 July. The rescheduled Leeds Playhouse dates will be confirmed later this spring.
An Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee for Sunday in the Park With George, Russell’s whose extensive credits include Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along at the first UK production of Grey Gardens was originally set to debut as the iconic French chanteuse in May 2020. Further casting will be announced at a later date.
Announcing the Nottingham run, Penford said: “We are thrilled to announce that Piaf will finally be performed this summer. Edith Piaf’s life was shocking, hilarious and heart-breaking, she lived life to the full. The life-affirming story, combined with those iconic songs, makes for an unforgettable, celebratory night of theatre – which is exactly what we want to give people on their first visit following the pandemic.”
Nottingham Playhouse will transform its auditorium into a Parisian bar with the opportunity for cabaret-style seating. If official advice changes the venue will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the safety of audience members and the Playhouse team.
Since its premiere at the RSC in 1978 with Jane Lapotaire in the title role opposite Ian Charleson as Pierre, playwright Gems’ biographical drama has attracted some of the theatre’s most accomplished leading ladies. Lapotaire who also went on to star in the show on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for her performance was followed by Elaine Paige who was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance in the first London revival in the 1990s. Argentine actress Elena Roger took home the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in the second London revival.
During the 2020 lockdown the Nottingham Playhouse increased its online content with projects including: acclaimed live family show, Noah and The Peacock, the National Theatre at Home screening of the venue’s acclaimed 2018 production of The Madness Of George III and the documentary series The Revival.
Nottingham Playhouse’s commitment to hiring local freelancers hardest hit by the Covid-closedown, led to the popular Unlocked festival last autumn including the world premiere of Nottingham Playhouse associate artist James Graham’s new work Bubble.
Nearly 29,000 people including children from 69 schools watched the venue’s online pantomime Cinderella. Other lockdown projects included dance tutorials, storytelling and special episodes of the venue’s podcast.
Future productions will include a version of A Christmas Carol written by and starring Mark Gattis and the pantomime Beauty and the Beast. Next year will include the much-anticipated productions of Private Peaceful and Red Ellen which had been delayed due to the pandemic.
Angela Thomas
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