Five reasons to see The Light in the Piazza at Southbank Centre
1. An Italian summer in the heart of London
The sun-drenched splendour of 1950s Florence at the height of summer comes beautifully to life in The Light in the Piazza, and where better to fall in love with the one of the most romantic musicals of all time than at the vibrant riverside cafes, bars and outdoor art spaces of the Southbank Centre? Prepare to be swept off your feet and transported to the golden glow of an Italian summer.
2. What a cast!
Opera megastar Renée Fleming and Disney film and TV sensation Dove Cameron both make their West End debuts as Margaret and Clara Johnson. They're supported by a stellar cast including Alex Jennings (Netflix's The Crown), West End stars Rob Houchen (Les Misérables), Liam Tamne (Wicked) and Celinde Schoenmaker (The Phantom of the Opera) and Royal Opera House soprano Marie McLaughlin.
3. A special event
It's the London premiere of the six-time Tony Award-winning Broadway hit and it's playing for only 20 performances. The lavish, fully staged production at the Royal Festival Hall is directed by the acclaimed Daniel Evans, artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre, with stunning set design by Rob Jones of the RSC and Royal Opera House. You can see what Rob has created in the video below.
4. The orchestra and music
Hailed by the New York Times as "the most intensely romantic score of any musical since West Side Story", The Light in the Piazza's soaring, emotional music will be beautifully performed by the onstage 40-strong orchestra of Opera North. Adam Guettel's unique blend of musical and operatic styling won Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations.
5. The love story
The Light in the Piazza is a sumptuous, sweeping romance that tells the story of Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara, taking in the sights and wonders of Florence in the summer of 1953. When a fateful gust of wind whisks Clara's hat into the hands of local dreamer, Fabrizio Naccarelli, it's love at first sight! But Clara isn't quite who she appears and soon they must confront a secret that's been kept in the shadows for far too long.
