Joanna Riding joins the case of Romantics Anonymous at Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe has revealed the full cast for Romantics Anonymous, a new musical in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse directed by Emma Rice, with book written by Rice, lyrics by Christopher Dimond, and music by Michael Kooman.
This funny, charming and awkward love story is adapted from the French-Belgian film Les Émotifs Anonymes written by Jean-Pierre Améris and Philippe Blasband.
The musical follows Angélique, a gifted chocolate maker inhibited by social anxiety, and Jean-René, the awkward boss of a struggling chocolate factory, in a tender love story about finding the courage to be happy. Romantics Anonymous will be the final new production directed by Emma Rice as artistic director of the Globe.
Carly Bawden will play the role of Angélique, having just appeared on the Globe stage as Maria in Rice’s Twelfth Night earlier this summer.
Bawden’s other recent theatre credits include the role of Alice in Wonder.land (National Theatre), McQueen (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Assassins, Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), Dead Dog in a Suitcase and Other Love Songs, Tristan & Yseult, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Kneehigh) and My Fair Lady (Sheffield Crucible).
The role of Jean-René will be played by Dominic Marsh, who played Tristan in Kneehigh’s production of Tristan & Yseult which came to the Globe earlier this year.
Other recent theatre work includes I Am Thomas (National Theatre of Scotland), Dead Dog in a Suitcase, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Kneehigh) and The Merchant of Venice (Bury St Edmunds).
Joanna Riding will play Mother and Magda. An Olivier Award-winner for her performances in Carousel and My Fair Lady (National Theatre), Riding’s other recent theatre credits include The Girls (Phoenix Theatre), Dick Whittington (Hackney Empire), The Pajama Game (Chichester Festival Theatre/Old Vic), An Ideal Husband (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Fear and Misery (Royal Court).
Marc Antolin plays Ludo, having appeared at the Globe as Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Rice’s Twelfth Night (2017). Antolin’s recent theatre credits include Peter Pan (National Theatre), The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (Bristol Old Vic and Shakespeare’s Globe), The Trial (Young Vic), Taken At Midnight (Theatre Royal Haymarket/Chichester Minerva), Amadeus, Singin’ in the Rain, The Music Man (Chichester Festival Theatre), From Here To Eternity (West End), and Matilda (RSC/West End).
The role of Mercier will be played by Gareth Snook, who appeared in the Globe’s production of Romeo and Juliet earlier this year. Snook’s other recent theatre credits include A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer (National Theatre), Casa Valentina (Southwark Playhouse), Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre) and Assassins (Donmar Warehouse).
Philip Cox will play Father. Cox’s previous theatre work includes The Mousetrap (St Martin’s Theatre), HMS Pinafore (Lyric Dublin), The Go Between (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Oliver! (Madinat Theatre).
Natasha Jayetileke will play the roles of Suzanna and Mimi. Other theatre credits include Bend It Like Beckham (West End), The Snow Queen (Nuffield Theatre) and Wah! Wah! Girls (Sadler’s Wells).
Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman are recipients of the Fred Ebb Award and Jonathan Larson Grant. Their previous musicals include Dani Girl, Judge Jackie, and The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes. They are currently writing two original songs for every episode of Vampirina, an animated Disney television series premiering this autumn.
Romantics Anonymous is presented by special arrangement with Radio Mouse Entertainment, a Tony Award-winning New York-based theatre and media production company that has been developing the project for the musical stage since 2014.
The full cast comprises Marc Antolin, Carly Bawden, Philip Cox, Joe Evans, Natasha Jayetileke, Dominic Marsh, Joanna Riding, Lauren Samuels and Gareth Snook.
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