Theatre News

Company final casting: Jonathan Bailey and Alex Gaumond announced

Marianne Elliott’s gender-swap production opens at the Gielgud Theatre in September

Alex Gaumond and Jonathan Bailey
Alex Gaumond and Jonathan Bailey
© Alex Rumford

Final casting has been announced for Marianne Elliott's production of Stephen Sondheim's Company, which opens at the Gielgud Theatre in September.

Joining the previously announced Rosalie Craig and Patti LuPone will be Jonathan Bailey (The York Realist) as Jamie (originally written as Amy) and Alex Gaumond (Matilda) as his fiancé Paul. Also announced today is Daisy Maywood (Promises, Promises) who will play Susan.

The complete Company company is now: Rosalie Craig as Bobbie, Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah, Jonathan Bailey as Jamie, George Blagden as PJ, Ashley Campbell as Peter, Richard Fleeshman as Andy, Alex Gaumond as Paul, Richard Henders as David, Ben Lewis as Larry, Daisy Maywood as Susan, Jennifer Saayeng as Jenny, Matthew Seadon-Young as Theo, Gavin Spokes as Harry, Michael Colbourne, Francesca Ellis, Ewan Gillies, Grant Neal and Jaimie Pruden.

Elliott said: "I could not be more thrilled that Stephen Sondheim agreed to turn Amy into Jamie. I hope it makes this production feel very, very now. We are keeping the existing dialogue, and not changing the famous scene in which the character gets cold feet about their impending marriage and sings the iconic "I'm not getting married today." The characters of Jamie and Paul feel like a lot of the contemporary gay male friends I know."

The musical follows Bobbie, who is approaching her 35th birthday as all her friends are wondering why she isn't married. Songs featured in the piece include "The Ladies who Lunch", "Side by Side" and "You Could Drive a Person Crazy".

The production opens in previews at the Gielgud Theatre from 26 September and is part of the new season of shows from Elliott's company with Chris Harper that the duo formed in 2016. Designs are from Bunny Christie, choreography from Liam Steel, lighting by Neil Austin and sound from Ian Dickson.