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”Once on This Island” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – rehearsal images released

| London |

25 April 2023

Gabrielle Brooks in rehearsals for Once On This Island — Gabrielle Brooks in rehearsals for *Once on This Island*
© Marc Brenner

Exclusive: Rehearsal shots have been released for the highly anticipated London revival of the Tony and Olivier-winning musical Once on This Island.

The show, directed by Ola Ince and set to begin performances at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre next month, will be led by WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award nominee Gabrielle Brooks as Ti Moune and Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Daniel.

They will be joined on stage by Courtney-Mae Briggs as Andrea, Jonathon Grant as Armand and understudy Agwe, Emilie Louise Israel as Erzulie, Chris Jarman as Tonton, Anelisa Lamola as Asaka, Natasha Magigi as Mama Euralie, Ashley Samuels as Agwe, and Lejaun Sheppard as Papa Ge. The role of Young Ti Moune will be shared by Janai Bartlett, Lexi Kowlessar, Nesisa Mhindu, Kirsten Muzvuru, Nielle Springer, and Olivia St Louis.

The company is completed by Bernadette Bangura, Hanna Dimtsu, Nay-Nay, Cassandra Lee, Newtion Matthews, Cherece Richards, and Marco Titus.

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Once on This Island, which has a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, is based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy. The show tells the story of Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. Set in the Caribbean, the musical explores themes of love, class, and fate.

The original West End production of Once on This Island won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 1995, and the most recent Broadway revival won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 2018.

Joining Ince on the creative team are Annemette Verspeak as voice and text director, Ingrid Mackinnon as season associate – intimacy support, Phil Bateman as musical supervisor, Niamh Gaffney as associate sound designer, Jessica Hung Han Yun as lighting designer, Niquelle LaTouche as associate choreographer, Nick Lidster as sound designer, Georgia Lowe as set designer, Lindsay McAllister as associate director, Philip d’Orléans as fight director, Chris Poon as musical director, Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy as choreographer, Melissa Simon-Hartman as costume designer, and Jacob Sparrow as casting director.

The show runs from 10 May to 10 June 2023, with a press night set for 17 May. Tickets are on sale below.