L to R: Meesha Turner, Emile Ruddock, Max Bennett, Andrew Coshan, Eva Scott, Emily Benjamin and Oliver Tompsett have been cast in A Knight’s Tale. Picture: Jay Brooks
Andrew Coshan, Max Bennett and Meesha Turner will lead the cast of the world premiere of a major musical based on Brian Helgeland’s much-loved film A Knight’s Tale at the Manchester Opera House this spring.
Coshan (A Face in the Crowd, Young Vic) will star as William alongside Bennett (Macbeth, Shakespeare’s Globe) as Chaucer and Turner (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, West End) as Jocelyn.
The principal cast will include Emily Benjamin (Cabaret, West End) as Kate, Andrew Emile Ruddock (Hamilton, West End) as Roland, Jay Saighal (The Great British Bake Off The Musical, West End) as Prince Edward, Eva Scott (Betty!: A Sort of Musical, Royal Exchange Theatre) as What, Giles Taylor (The Mirror and The Light, West End) as Father and Oliver Tompsett (& Juliet, West End) as Count Adhemar.
The cast will also include Robbie Alexander (Love Never Dies Asia tour), Lauren Arney (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, West End), Arcangelo Ciulla (Newsies, Troubadour Theatre), Georgia Clements, Zac Frieze (Disney’s Aladdin, UK tour), Elliot Gooch (Sister Act, UK tour), Gabriela Gregorian (Shrek The Musical, London and UK tour), Benedict Hastings (101 Dalmatians, UK tour), Danielle Huntley (To the Streets!, Birmingham Hippodrome), Thomas Inge (Grease, UK and Ireland tour), Lisa Kerr (Women in Power, Nuffield Southampton Theatres), Zera Malvina-Aitken (Grease, UK and Ireland tour), Mehran James McCullough (Doctor Zhivago in Concert, West End), Ryan North (commercial dancer for ITV), Ryan Pidgen (Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre) and Chioma Uma (Brief Encounter, UK tour).
Set to play a limited season in Manchester from 11 April until 10 May, the 2001 medieval action comedy with a rock and pop-powered soundtrack has been adapted for the stage by Irish comedy writer and actor Brona C Titley. The production will be directed by Rachel Kavanaugh with choreography by Olivier Award-winner Matt Cole, casting by Lucy Casson and children’s casting by Keston and Keston.
Commenting on the stage version of the film he made over two decades ago, Helgeland said: “Over 20 years ago I had the time of my life surrounded by a supreme cast and crew making a film we all fell in love with while we were joyfully making it. Sitting at a recent read-through of the stage version, fashioned by Rachel Kavanaugh and Brona C Titley, I could feel that same joy and love emerging. I am grateful for the new life they are creating and very eager to see it in all its fully staged glory.”
Writer Titley said: “When I saw A Knight’s Tale the movie in 2001, I knew it was an instant classic. Upon innumerable rewatches, I can confirm… it still is! Adapting it for the stage has been more fun than I ever thought possible to have at work. This show is a sexy, silly, jousty, dancey, romance-y, musical extravaganza! It’s been one of the most fulfilling jobs of my career so far, and that was even before I met the incredible director, and team of legends that are working together to make it an unforgettable night out. I hope audiences love it as much as I do – do not miss this joyous, dizzy ride people!”
The musical’s director Kavanaugh added: “I am beyond excited to be directing Brona’s brilliant and hilarious stage adaptation of Brian’s ground-breaking film. With a score of well-loved rock and pop bangers, jousting, dancing, adventure and romance I hope we can give the audience a knight to remember as we follow the journey of a thatcher’s son and find out if he really can ‘change his stars’.”
Written and directed by Oscar-winner Helgeland, A Knight’s Tale starred the late Heath Ledger as the jousting 14th century peasant squire who breaks all the rules by posing as a nobleman. The raucous adventure also featured a scene-stealing performance from Paul Bettany as Geoffrey Chaucer.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.