London audiences will get a first look at the stage musical version of cult British film Saving Grace when it plays an intimate first run at the Riverside Studios later this year.
Produced by Barney Wragg, Liz Murdoch, Xavier Marchand, Mark Crowdy and Craig Ferguson, the musical will play 12 performances at the Hammersmith venue from 22 November until 4 December 2022.
Based on Craig Ferguson and Mark Crowdy’s screenplay for the original 2000 film, the musical features a book by acclaimed playwright April de Angelis and music and lyrics by multi-award-winning Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall, making her musical theatre debut with the show.
The musical is directed by Lawrence Connor (Cinderella, School of Rock) with musical supervision and arrangements by John Rigby, set and costume designs by Laura Hopkins, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Richard Brooker , orchestrations by Tunstall and John Rigby and casting by David Grindrod for Grindrod Burton Casting.
Commenting on the musical, producer Wragg said: “It’s great to be working with Laurence again, the last time we worked together was on School of Rock on Broadway.
“As part of the development for School of Rock, we presented an early version of the show to live audiences at the Gramercy Theatre. This allowed the creative team to see a real audience reaction to the piece and allowed us to tweak and improve the work before we began the formal previews and opening at the Winter Garden.
“We’re excited to present Saving Grace at Riverside this November in the same vein. We are inviting audiences to have a first look at what goes into the creation of a new musical. It is a chance for them not only to see and enjoy Saving Grace, but to respond to the show and help our team improve and develop the piece. We are very much looking forward to the run at the Riverside Studios and sharing the next stage of our Saving Grace journey.”
Based on the Cornwall-set film comedy about a middle-aged widow who comes up with an unusual and not exactly legal way to pay off her errant husband’s huge debts. The film which starred Brenda Blethyn in the title role and Ferguson as Grace’s gardener also famously inspired the much-loved TV series Doc Martin.
Angela Thomas
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