Theatre News

Landor’s Edwin Drood musical revival transfers to Arts Theatre

The Mystery of Edwin Drood, currently running at Clapham North’s Landor Theatre, will transfer to the Arts Theatre in the West End.

The musical – with book, music & lyrics by Rupert Holmes – is based on Charles Dickens’ final, unfinished novel and was revived at the Landor to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the author’s birth.

Described as “a thrilling and comical play within a play” the show is set in the world of music hall and pantomime and follows the exploits of characters from the Theatre Royale Music Hall Company as they set about completing the unfinished story of Edwin Drood. Each night it us up to the audience to determine the outcome by selecting one of 525 possible endings.

When first presented on Broadway in 1986 The Mystery of Edwin Drood won five Tony Awards (including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score) and nine Drama Desk Awards

The production stars Wendi Peters, best known for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street and is directed by Matthew Gould. Musical Direction is by James Cleeve with orchestrations by Tony Osborne.

The cast includes Natalie Day (Les Miserables), Victoria Farley (Les Miserables at the Barbican), Daniel Robinson, Loula Geater, David Francis, Denis Delahunt, Richard Stirling, ChrisColeman, Oliver Mawdsley, Paul Hutton, Tom Pepper, and Ben Goffe.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is running at the Landor Theatre until 5 May 2012. It will play at the Arts Theatre from 22 May to 17 June 2012 (previews from 18 May).