Photos

Show Pics: First Peek at the Menier’s Space Age Pippin

Editorial Staff
London's West End

The Menier Chocolate Factory’s “high-concept” revival of Stephen Schwartz and Roger O Hirson‘s Pippin opens at the Southwark venue tonight (7 December, previews from 22 November 2011) where it runs until 25 February 2012.

Directed by Mitch Sebastian and with projection and design by Olivier Award-winning Sunday in the Park with George creative Timothy Bird, the production stars Harry Hepple in the title role alongside Ian Kelsey, Matt Rawle, Carly Bawden and Frances Ruffelle.

Billed as a “colourful, imaginative and darkly humorous coming-of-age story”, Pippin sees the heir to the throne of Charlemagne search for beauty, glory, fame and magic. In doing so he has to come to grips with lust, sex, war, politics and religion.

Originally staged by Bob Fosse, the early Schwartz musical has a 70’s pop score and won five Tony Awards including Best Choreography. Fosse’s production, which he directed and choreographed, transferred to the West End a year after opening in New York and debuted at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1973 with a cast which included Patricia Hodge.

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Harry Hepple & Carly Bawden in Pippin. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton


Frances Ruffelle (centre) & the cast of Pippin. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton


Matt Rawle in Pippin. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton