Theatre News

Kaisa Hammarlund to star in Violet at Charing Cross Theatre

The actress recently starred in ”Fun Home” at the Young Vic

Kaisa Hammarlund
Kaisa Hammarlund
© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Kaisa Hammarlund is to star in the UK premiere of the award-winning musical Violet.

Hammarlund has just played Alison Bechdel in the acclaimed UK premiere of Fun Home at the Young Vic. Her other major roles include Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity at the Royal Exchange Theatre and Petra in A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Garrick Theatre.

Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley's musical is set in 1964 where Violet, who was facially disfigured as a child, hopes her life savings will bring her a miracle.

The piece is based on the short story The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts and premiered Off-Broadway and won the Drama Critics' Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical. It subsequently transferred to Broadway in 2014 where it was nominated for four Tony Awards.

Jay Marsh joins Hammarlund as Flick, with Matthew Harvey as Monty.

The cast also features Simbi Akande, Angelica Allen, Kenneth Avery-Clark, Keiron Crook, James Gant, Danny Michaels, Janet Mooney with Amy Mepham, Rebecca Nardin and Maddie Sellman as young Violet.

Shuntaro Fujita directs the piece, which has choreography from Cressida Carré, set design by Morgan Large, costume by Jonathan Lipman, lighting by Howard Hudson, sound by Andrew Johnson and music direction from Dan Jackson. Chris Ma is the associate music director, while Abigail Pickard-Price is the associate director and Thom Southerland the production supervisor.

The show runs from the 14 January to the 6 April at the Charing Cross Theatre.