Louis Maskell in The Grinning Man. Picture: Simon Annand
Full casting has been announced for the London transfer of the critically-acclaimed The Grinning Man which will open at the Trafalgar Studios on 6 December.
Directed by Tony Award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse) and based on the Victor Hugo novel The Man Who Laughs, the gothic love story which premiered at the Bristol Old Vic in late 2016 will play Studio 1 at the Whitehall venue until 17 February 2018.
A number of stars of the Bristol production will reprise their roles in the show’s London debut. They include the previously announced Louis Maskell (My Fair Lady, West Side Story), who was nominated for a UK Theatre Award for his performance in the title role of Grinpayne, the show’s disfigured hero. Also returning to the show are: Julian Bleach (St George in the Dragon, Shockheaded Peter) as corrupt court clown Barkilphedro; Sean Kingsley (Les Misérables, Billy Elliot); and Ewan Black (Sleeping Beauty, The Merchant of Venice), who will play Ursus and Trelaw in the West End premiere.
New to the cast will be Sanne den Besten (Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!) who will take on the role Dea, the blind woman who is Grinpayne’s childhood friend and closest companion.
Also joining the cast are: Mark Anderson (The Toxic Avenger), Julie Atherton (Avenue Q), Jim Kitson (Much Ado About Nothing), Sophia Mackay (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds her Chameleon Skin) and Amanda Wilkin (Hamlet). Completing the company are James Alexander-Taylor, Christina Bloom, Jonathan Cobb, Leo Elso, Claire-Marie Hall and Loren O’Dair.
Written by Kneehigh theatre company’s writer Carl Grose and with a score by Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler, the revised production reunites director Morris with two puppeteers from the original War Horse, Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié (from puppetry company Gyre & Gimble).
The Grinning Man is produced by Bristol Old Vic, Trafalgar Entertainment Group, Eilene Davidson, Richard O’Brien, David Adkin and Neil Laidlaw.
Angela Thomas
Tickets for The Grinning Man are available HERE.
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