Shakespeare’s Globe announces full casting for Emma Rice's new musical Romantics Anonymous

Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce the full cast of Romantics Anonymous, a new musical in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse directed by Emma Rice, with book written by Emma Rice, lyrics by Christopher Dimond, and music by Michael Kooman, presented by special arrangement with Radio Mouse Entertainment. 

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 an unusual and 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 Emma Rice’s Twelfth Night earlier this summer. Carly’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). Television includes Close to the Enemy (BBC). 

15 of the Best West End Duos!

Following from last weeks feature (15 Most Memorable Performances I've seen) the Pocket team have been thinking about the best Duos that have been on the West End recently. 

So, in no particular order, here is our list... 

Sierra Boggess & Ramin Karimloo in Love Never Dies

Justin Lee Collins & Simon Lipkin in Rock of Ages

FIRST LOOK: The Pajama Game at the Shaftesbury Theatre

Richard Eyre’s sensational production of the Broadway classic The Pajama Game has transferred to the West End, it will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 13th May 2014 (previews from 1st May) for a limited season until 13th September 2014 following a critically acclaimed, sold out run at Chichester Festival Theatre, starring Olivier Award-winning Joanna Riding and Michael Xavier, and featuring Peter Polycarpou until 31 May and Gary Wilmot from 2 June.

The cast also features: Alexis Owen Hobbs (Gladys), Claire Machin (Mabel), Colin Stinton (Hasler/Pop), Eugene McCoy (Prez), Siôn Lloyd (Max), Jennie Dale (Mae), Sharon Wattis (Poopsie), Keisha Amponsa Banson (Brenda), Lauren Varnham (Charlene), Helen Ternent (Martha), Jo Morris (Rita), Nolan Frederick (Charley), Richard Jones (Frank), Dan Burton (Earl) and James O’Connell (Joe)