Lots of returning cast and several exciting new faces for the London transfer of THE GRINNING MAN. Sanne den Besten, Mark Anderson (fresh from The Toxic Avenger) and Julie Atherton are amongst those joining original stars Julian Bleach and Louis Maskell at Trafalgar Studios...
Full casting has been announced for the critically acclaimed production of The Grinning Man, directed by Tony award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse) and based on the classic Victor Hugo (Les Misérables) novel, The Man Who Laughs, which starts performances at the West End's Trafalgar Studios on 6 December 2017, with a press night on 18 December.
Sean Kingsley (Les Misérables, Billy Elliot) and Ewan Black (Sleeping Beauty, The Merchant of Venice), who previously co-starred in the award-winning Bristol Old Vic production of the musical, have been confirmed to play Ursus and Trelaw in the West End premiere. Sanne den Besten (Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!), new to the cast, will play Dea, a blind woman who is the childhood friend and closest companion to the show’s title character Grinpayne. This updated production of The Grinning Man follows the critically acclaimed premiere of the show in autumn 2016 at Bristol Old Vic.
Louis Maskell, who was recently nominated for Best Performance in a Musical for his role in the Bristol production, will again lead the cast in the title role of Grinpayne, the show’s disfigured hero. Julian Bleach, who also starred in the Bristol season, plays the role of the deliciously corrupt court clown Barkilphedro.
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.
The Grinning Man is a romantic gothic musical love story, set in a fantastical world with a dark heart, and brought to life by Kneehigh writer Carl Grose, with a score by Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler. The show reunites Tom Morris with two puppeteers who began their careers inside Joey and Topthorn in the original production of War Horse – Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié - now leading their own brilliant puppetry company Gyre & Gimble.
A first look at #TheGrinningMan cast at today's read through. Previews begin 6th December. BOOK NOW https://t.co/4UPBildlXb pic.twitter.com/FYXYunzJ2W
— The Grinning Man (@grinningmanLDN) October 23, 2017
