Casting for The Old Vic’s Martin Guerre

Casting has been confirmed for The Old Vic’s highly anticipated new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Martin Guerre.

Developed and directed by Matthew Warchus as part of his final season as artistic director of The Old Vic, the semi-staged production will offer a first look at Boublil and Schönberg’s new revised version of their award-winning 1996 musical.

Reimagined for the London stage with new music, new lyrics and new folk-inflected orchestrations, the production will be staged in the round at the prestigious London venue for five weeks from 1-31 October.

Warchus will direct Liv Andrusier as Bertrande, Monique Ashe-Palmer as Ensemble, Mathew Craig as Pierre, Mali Wen Davies as Ensemble, Daniel Forrester as Ensemble, Becca Francis as Swing, Grace Galloway as Ensemble, Dan Hand as Young Martin, Bethan Louise Honer as Young Bertrande, Alex James-Hatton as Martin, Chris Jenkins as Ensemble, Aaron Lee Lambert as Judge, Eli McFarland as Young Benoit, Shane O’Riordan as Martin, Oliver Payne as Young Guillaume, Adam Pearce as Father Dominic, Nathaniel Purnell as Swing, Colin Ryan as Benoit, Caroline Sheen as Madame de Rols, Gabriella Stylianou as Ensemble and Barney Wilkinson as Guillaume.

Commenting on the production, the musical’s creators Boublil and Schönberg said: “We’re thrilled that this timeless story is being brought back to life at The Old Vic, entirely reimagined and under the experienced direction of Matthew Warchus. Thirty years on from its premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in London, we are delighted that audiences, both new and familiar, will get to experience the story and music of Martin Guerre again. A story of lies and passionate love, versus the truth – or perhaps more importantly what we each perceive to be true.”

Warchus added: “As my penultimate show, I’m very excited to be sharing an all-new version of Boublil and Schönberg’s extraordinary musical, the creation of which has been many years in the making. The show has been radically reworked, featuring new lyrics, new folk-inflected orchestrations and an immersive In The Round staging.”

Featuring new lyrics by Boublil, Annabel Mutale Reed and Paul Hodge, the production features set and costume design by Rob Howell, choreography by Lizzi Gee, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, Luca Panetta and Toby Ison, sound by Fergus O’Hare and orchestrations from Tom Curran.

The creative team also includes musical supervisor Chris Poon, musical director Matthew Jackson, casting director Will Burton for Grindrod Burton Casting, assistant director Jennifer Lane Baker, associate set designer Megan Rouse, associate costume designer Lucy Gaiger and associate choreographer Stuart Winter, with wigs, hair and make-up by Campbell Young Associates and props supervision by Katie Saunders for Propworks.

Inspired by the true story of 16th century peasant Martin Guerre and the 1982 film The Return of Martin Guerre, the two act largely sung-through musical debuted in the West End in 1996. Although the reception to the show was mixed the musical did win the 1997 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The musical has previously been rewritten a number of times, with a revised production playing at Newbury’s Watermill Theatre in 2007.

Angela Thomas