Theatre News

Stiles & Drewe’s Soho Cinders premieres at Soho Theatre, 8 Aug

| London's West End |

18 May 2012

Stiles and Drewe’s new musical Soho Cinders will receive its world premiere at Soho Theatre from 8 August to 9 September 2012 (previews from 2 August).

The show was first seen at the Queen’s Theatre last October in a one-off gala performance held in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, supported by Whatsonstage.com.

The Soho production will feature a cast led by Jenna Russell and Michael Xavier, as well as the voice of Stephen Fry.

Directed by Jonathan Butterell, Soho Cinders celebrates “the capital’s most colourful district” and centres on an impoverished student who becomes romantically involved with an engaged Mayoral candidate.

According to press material, “The potent mix of politics, sex-scandals and true love come together in this contemporary musical with an infectious score that you’ll be humming long past the stroke of midnight.”

It has music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe, book by Anthony Drewe and Elliot Davis, choreography by Drew McOnie, design by Morgan Large and lighting design by Hugh Vanstone.

The cast also includes Clive Carter, Suzie Chard, Amy Lennox and Beverly Rudd. Full casting will be announced shortly.

A statement from Soho Theatre reads: “We are delighted to welcome the Soho Cinders producers to present this rare musical treat within the venue’s main house, providing an opportunity for our audience and musical theatre audiences to see this full-scale musical within an intimate space; whilst Soho Theatre takes its regular programme of new writing, comedy and cabaret to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2012.”

Jenna Russell won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George. Other stage credits include Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park.

Russell’s fellow former Whatsonstage.com Award nominee Michael Xavier is currently playing the male lead in Wonderful Town on a UK Tour. His recent credits include Into the Woods (Open Air Theatre), Love Story (Chichester and Duchess), Spamalot, Miss Saigon and My Fair Lady.

George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have been writing together for nearly 30 years. They are best known for writing new songs for Mary Poppins, their Olivier Award-winning Honk! and more recently the critically acclaimed Betty Blue Eyes.

Soho Cinders is produced by Soho Cinders Ltd, Jamie Hendry Productions, Daniel Sparrow & Mike Walsh Productions, Neil Marcus and Paul Tyrer & Jamie Clark for the Booking Office in association with Soho Theatre.