David Hunter and Joanna Woodward will take on the central roles in the much-anticipated stage musical adaptation of the bestselling novel The Time Traveller’s Wife.
Hunter, whose extensive musical theatre credits include Waitress in the West End and on tour, Kinky Boots at the Adelphi and Once at the Phoenix Theatre, will play the time travelling Henry opposite Woodward who recently understudied and played the role of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre and the Savoy Theatre. Woodward (Zombies: The Musical, The Other Palace, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Aldwych Theatre) will play Clare.
Based on Audrey Niffenegger’s acclaimed debut novel and the New Line Cinema film screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin, the musical will play a two-week season at Storyhouse in Chester from 30 September until 15 October before transferring to an, as yet, unnamed West End venue.
Featuring original music and lyrics by pop royalty Joss Stone and Dave Stewart and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan and a book by award-winning playwright Lauren Gunderson, the production will be directed by Bill Buckhurst and designed by Anna Fleische.
The cast will also include: Aisha Davis (UK theatre debut, with previous theatre work in Kingston, Jamaica) as Dr Kendrick; Ross Dawes (Rock of Ages UK tour) as Henry’s Dad; Hiba Elchikhe (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End and Los Angeles) as Charisse; Stevie Hutchinson (Ghost: The Musical, UK and China tour) as Clare’s Dad; Tim Mahendran (Spring Awakening, Hope Mill Theatre) as Gomez; Sorelle Marsh (White Christmas, Lowry Theatre) as Henry’s Mum; Benjamin Purkiss (Zorro the Musical, Charing Cross Theatre/Hope Mill Theatre) as Jason/Mark; and Alwyne Taylor (winner of the Manchester Evening News Best Actress Award for Once in a Lifetime, Company, Sweet Charity and Accrington Pals at the Library Theatre) as Old Clare. The three local children chosen to play the role of Young Clare will be announced soon following open auditions.
Produced by Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Teresa Tsai, and Crossroads Live, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, the creative team for the production also includes choreographer Shelley Maxwell, lighting designer Lucy Carter with illusions by Chris Fisher, video design by Andrjez Goulding, sound design by Richard Brooker, musical supervision and arrangement by Nick Finlow and orchestrations by Bryan Crook. Casting will be by Stuart Burt.
First published in 2003 The Time Traveller’s Wife was turned into a film starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams which was released in 2009. The story also recently provided the inspiration for a short-lived HBO TV series, starring Rose Leslie and Theo James.
Angela Thomas
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