Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed full casting for the venue’s upcoming revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic Carousel.
As previously announced Carly Bawden (Romantics Anonymous, Shakespeare’s Globe/Bristol Old Vic, Ghost Quartet, Boulevard Theatre) and Declan Bennett (Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air, Once, Phoenix Theatre) will star as tragic lovers Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow with recent Urdang Academy graduate Natasha May Thomas making her professional debut as their daughter Louise Bigelow, John Pfumonjena (Do You Love Me Yet? Oxford Playhouse, Peter Pan, National Theatre/Bristol Old Vic/Troubadour) as fisherman Enoch Snow and Joanne Riding (Follies, National Theatre, Romantics Anonymous, Shakespeare’s Globe) as Julie’s cousin, Nettie Fowler.
They will be joined by: Brendan Charleson (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Birmingham Rep/West Yorkshire Playhouse, Uncle Vanya, Theatr Clwyd/Sheffield Crucible) as Mr Bascombe; Jo Eaton-Kent (Sweet Charity, Donmar Warehouse, The Romanoffs, TV) as Mrs Mullin; Sam Mackay (Flashdance, Shaftesbury Theatre, In The Heights, King’s Cross Theatre) as Jigger Craigin; Ediz Mahmut (West Side Story, Royal Exchange Manchester, Fame, Troubadour) as Young Enoch; and Christine Modesto (Little Shop of Horrors, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, In The Heights, Southwark Playhouse) as Carrie Pipperidge.
The ensemble includes: Chanelle Anthony, Craig Armstrong, William Atkinson, Shay Barclay, Sarah Benbelaid, Madeline Charlemagne, Freya Field, Sebastian Goffin, Amie Hibbert, Tim Hodges, Lukas Hunt, Tessa Kadler, Lindsay McAllister, Matthew McKenna, Jack Mitchell, Charlotte Riby, Lisa Ritchie and Daisy West.
Directed by the prestigious venue’s artistic director Timothy Sheader with choreography by Drew McOnie, the creative team for Carousel also includes: Joanna Bowman (associate director), Lucy Casson (casting director), Tom Deering (musical supervisor and orchestrator), Mark Dickman (associate musical director), Molly Einchcomb (co-costume designer), Barbara Houseman (season associate director/voice and text director), Nick Lidster (sound designer), Aideen Malone (lighting designer), Matthew Malone (Assistant Musical Director), Ebony Molina (associate choreographer), Verity Naughton (children’s casting director), James Orange (casting director), Tom Scutt (set designer and co-costume designer), Jacob Sparrow (casting director) and Kate Waters (fight director).
The Open Air Theatre has launched the new Creative Team Associates initiative to provide jobs for freelance artists to collaborate on productions this season. The scheme offers freelancers the opportunity to broaden their experience of large-scale work and to receive support and mentoring from lead creatives. Under the scheme, Annie May Fletcher (sound associate) and Simisola Majekodunmi (lighting associate) have joined the Carousel creative team.
Based on Hungarian-born writer and director Ferenc Molnar’s play Liliom, Carousel marked the second collaboration between genre legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.
Premiering on Broadway in 1945, the story of the doomed romance between charismatic carousel worker Billy Bigelow and wholesome millworker Julie Jordan features some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s best-loved songs including the timeless ‘If I Loved You’ and the inspirational ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
The 1956 film version starred Gordon MacRae in the role which was originally due to be played by Frank Sinatra opposite Shirley Jones. MacRae and Jones had starred in the previous year’s film version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s first musical Oklahoma!
The 2021 season, which will follow Covid-secure procedures for as long as necessary – including an initial 50% reduction to seating capacity – also includes: Romeo and Juliet (17 June-24 July) directed by Kimberley Sykes; a co-production with Unicorn Theatre of Anansi the Spider (7-24 July) directed by Justin Audibert for ages 3-7; and Dragons and Mythical Beasts directed by Derek Bond and Laura Cubitt for ages 3+ (13 August- 5 September).
A series of MOREoutdoor events includes comedy from Aisling Bea, Jimmy Carr, Paul Chowdhry and Luisa Omielan, and Canned Laughter present a comedy fundraiser in support of The Trussell Trust featuring Lolly Adefope, Kemah Bob, Jen Brister, Bridget Christie, Ed Gamble, Rosie Jones, Jamali Maddix, Rose Matafeo, Mawaan Rizwan and Suzi Ruffell.
The Luna Cinema will also present a 20th anniversary screening of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! and a screening of The Shining.
Recognising the stories told in the productions of Romeo and Juliet and Carousel, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre are highlighting the work of two charities: Papyrus which provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person, through their helpline HOPELINEUK; and Refuge, a charity that supports over 6,500 women, children and men a day affected by domestic abuse.
Angela Thomas
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