Theatre News

A Tale of Two Cities musical revived at Charing Cross, 17 Apr

7 February 2012

A musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities by David Pomeranz, Steven David Horwich and David Soames, which premiered at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in September 2008, will be revived at the Charing Cross Theatre from 15 April (previews from 5 April) to 12 May 2012.

Announced to coincide with the writer’s bicentenary, A Tale of Two Cities is directed by the star of BBC sitcom Just Good Friends, Paul Nicholas, who also originated the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Based on the much loved Dickens story, the classic tale depicts one man’s ultimate sacrifice for love, set against the backdrop of the French revolution and the comparative calm of the 18th century London society.

Full casting for A Tale of Two Cities will be announced shortly.

A Tale of Two Cities has music by David Pomeranz whose songs have been performed by artists such as Freddie Mercury, The Carpenters and Dionne Warwick, gaining 22 platinum and 18 gold albums.

The musical has a book by Steven David Horwich whose other musical credit include Little Tramp and David Soames, creator of Cliff Richard musical Time. Lyrics are by Horwich, with musical arrangements by John Cameron. A Tale of Two Cities is choreographed by Racky Plews.

Director Paul Nicholas‘ other TV credits include Bust, Close To Home, Two Up Two Down and The Lady Killers. He has been seen on the big screen in Tommy, Stardust, The World Is Full Of Married Men, Blind Terror, The Nutcracker and Invitation To The Wedding.

He has recently been seen on stage in Keeler, which he also produced and directed, a national tours of The Haunting and The Pirates of Penzance. In addition to originating the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Nicholas has also played leading roles in the West End productions of Grease, Cats and The Pirates of Penzance.

Dickens’ tale has adapted for the musical stage on a number of occasions, with one of the most high-profile being Jill Santoriello‘s 2008 Broadway staging. That production closed after 60 performances and 33 previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, receiving an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Best New Musical.

On this side of the Atlantic, Howard Goodall adapted Dickens’ story for the stage with a book co-written by Joanna Read. That production, transposed to the Russian revolution rather than the French, premiered at Salisbury Playhouse in 2006.

A Tale of Two Cities at the Charing Cross Theatre is produced by PNPF Associates Ltd in association with Ovation.