Have you seen who's starring in the new production of Mary Rodgers’ rarely seen, 1959 Broadway fairy-tale Once Upon a Mattress? Love, lechery, a legume... and a ten-strong cast of #StageFaves... plus a competition!
Once Upon a Mattress - the musical comedy about "love, lechery and a legume" adapted from Hans Christian Andersen‘s 19th-century short story The Princess and The Pea - has a limited four-week season at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in Highgate, north London, running from 5 to 29 March 2020, with press performances on 7 and 10 March.
Once Upon a Mattress was the first musical by Mary Rodgers, daughter of legendary musical composer Richard Rodgers of Rodgers & Hammerstein.
Offie nominee Beth Burrows stars as Princess Winnifred, in her fourth collaboration with director and producer Mark Giesser, following Strike Up the Band last year at the Gatehouse, The Lady With a Dog at the White Bear and Tabard Theatres and Sirens of the Silver Screen at the Gatehouse and Tabard.
Burrows features alongside Julia Faulkner (Gangsta Granny) as Queen Aggravain and Theo Toksvig-Stewart (Endless Second, EastEnders) as Prince Dauntless. Also in the cast are Steve Watts, Rachael Louise Miller, Matthew James Willis, Rachel Lea-Gray, John Sears, Courtney Hammond and Scott Armstrong. The production is choreographed by Chris Whittaker (Top Hat) and designed by Guilia Scrimieri, with musical direction by Jessica Douglas.
Once Upon a Mattress is a Broadway fairytale… Many moons ago, in a far-off place, begins a magical musical comedy journey into the world of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved story of the princess and the pea. But this isn’t your usual fairy tale, and Princess Winifred isn’t your usual fairy-tale princess.
The kingdom in which she seeks her prince seethes with a very adult problem, which won’t end until a very stubborn Queen Aggravain allows her son to marry. Alas, he is his mother’s prince, and is any princess really good enough?
Once Upon a Mattress premiered on Broadway in 1959, when it starred Carol Burnett and was nominated for a Tony Award. It was revived in 1996 starring Sarah Jessica Parker. The musical has a score by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer.
Once Upon a Mattress runs from 5 to 29 March 2020 at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD, with performances Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 4pm, Saturday matinee 28 March at 3pm. Tickets are priced £10-£20. Phone 020 8340 3488 or CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE!
Enter to win by Friday 21 February!
