Leeds return for Playhouse and Opera North hit co-production of A Little Night Music

Picture: Sharron Wallace

Leeds Playhouse and Opera North’s acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s evocative A Little Night Music will play an encore run in Leeds this summer.

Directed by the Playhouse’s artistic director James Brining, the director of Leeds Playhouse and Opera North’s celebrated 2016 production of Sondheim’s Into the Woods, A Little Night Music will return to the Quarry stage from 1-16 July 2022.

Commenting on the production, Brining said: “I think A Little Night Music is about making the most of our life, making the most of the people we care most about, and making decisions that feel risky but are also the most rewarding. It’s moving, but it’s also really great fun.”

The production will once again star Dutch baritone Quirijn de Lang as Frederick Egerman opposite mezzo soprano Sandra Piques Eddy who will join the production to play Desiree Armfeldt.

Discussing Sondheim’s work, de Lang said: “Relationships are messy, but that’s what makes us human, and Sondheim is a genius at putting that onto the stage.”

Eddy added: “A Little Night Music is brilliant because it’s so light-hearted, but then you get socked in the gut, and it’s absolutely glorious.”

Opera North favourite Josephine Barstow will return as the formidable Madam Armfeldt, with Corinne Cowling as the ingénue bride Anne Egerman, and young tenor Sam Marston will make his Opera North debut as the callow Henrik Egerman. Other roles are taken by members of Opera North’s talented Chorus including Amy J Payne as the maidservant Petra, and Christopher Nairne and Helen Évora as Count and Countess Malcolm.

The creative team for the production also includes Opera North’s former head of music, American musical theatre specialist James Holmes (Carousel, Kiss Me, Kate, Into the Woods, Opera North) who conducts the production. Set and costume design is by Madeleine Boyd with choreography by Lucy Hind, lighting design by Chris Davey and sound design by Sebastain Frost.

With music and lyrics by Sondheim, a book by Hugh Wheeler and original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, A Little Night Music debuted on Broadway in 1973. Directed by Harold Prince, the production starred Glynis Johns, Len Cariou and Hermione Gingold. The 1975 West End premiere production featured Jean Simmons and Joss Ackland with Gingold reprising her performance as Madame Armfeldt.

Angela Thomas