In rehearsals for The Grinning Man, a 'dark cracked fairytale'

With puppetry, an ethereal score, gripping Victor Hugo source material and a twisted plot line, The Grinning Man looks set to be one of the most surreal West End experiences of the year. Ahead of the show's opening, we sat down with the musical's stars, Louis Maskell and Sanne den Besten, as well as director Tom Morris (War Horse), artistic director at Bristol Old Vic.

Based on Hugo's The Man Who Laughs , the play is about a new fairground act with a hideous smile. The show opened at Bristol Old Vic in December 2016, picking up a nomination for Best Regional Production at the WhatsOnStage Awards.

In our review of last year's show, Matt Trueman wrote it was 'dark and stylish, it has the best British score in years'.

The Grinning Man runs at Trafalgar Studios from 18 December to 17 February, with previews from now.

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