Avenue Q returns to London with fringe revival
The adult Sesame Street-style show, written by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, follows recent graduate Princeton through his struggles of living in New York with nothing but a BA in English. He and his neighbours, both people and puppets, struggle through life on Avenue Q – most of them only there because it’s all they can afford.
It premiered in 2003 at the off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre, and later that year in transferred to Broadway, opening at the John Golden Theatre in July. The show won 2004 Tony Awards for Best New Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.
In 2006, Cameron Mackintosh produced the West End transfer at the Noël Coward Theatre. Mackintosh made some slight changes to adapt for a British audience, including the portrayal of Gary Coleman as the character of the superintendent. It subsequently transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre, Gielgud and Wyndham’s until it closed in October 2010 ahead of a UK tour. Its most recent tour was from January to April 2012.
Opening on 16 May 2013, the production at Upstairs at the Gatehouse will be directed by John Plews and produced by Katie Plews for Ovation. The creative team features Angharad Sanders (musical director), Grant Murphy (choreographer), Nigel Plaskitt (technical advisor for puppet design), Suzi Lombardelli (designer), Aaron J Dootson (lighting designer) and Jon Raper (sound designer).
The production runs until June 30, with casting still to be announced.
