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Starring:
Darius Danesh and Jill Paice
Producer:
Columbia Artists Theatricals / Colin Ingram
Writer:
Margaret Mitchell’s book adapted by Trevor Nunn, Music and Lyrics by Margaret Martin.
The iconic roles of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara will be bought to life in the musical production of Gone with the Wind coming to London in April 2008 by Trevor Nunn.
Trevor Nunn’s brand new stage adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's classic novel will have its first performance at the New London Theatre on Friday 4 April 2008, with press night on Tuesday 22 April and is initially booking until 27 September 2008.
Set in 1860’s Atlanta, Georgia, Gone with the Wind follows the story of the seventeen-year-old Scarlett O’Hara, the eldest of three daughters living a life of ease and comfort on their father’s plantation until the onset of the Civil War threatens this idyllic existence.
Scarlett’s incredible journey through both war and peacetime is mirrored in her turbulent relationship with Rhett Butler, whose actions invariably defy prediction. Their story spans ten years and mingles romantic joy with tragic grief, as the life these people once knew disappears, and we are asked if what has ‘gone with the wind’ is for better or worse.
Gone with the Wind, published in 1936, is one of the best selling novels of the 20th century and won Margaret Mitchell the Pulitzer Prize. Three years later in 1939, the film adaptation made box office history as the highest grossing film of all time and is still regarded as one of the greatest American classics.
Joining the principal cast is a company including Emily Bryant, Gareth Chart, Laura Checkley, Julian Forsyth, Kirsty Hoiles, Chris Jarman, Tober Reilly, David Roberts, Tom Sellwood, Ray Shell, Savannah Stevenson, Gemma Sutton, Sue Jane Tanner, Susan Tracy and Alan Winner. Final casting will be announced shortly.
Glasgow born Darius Danesh (Rhett Butler) is a platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter and actor. He rose to fame on the hit British TV show Pop Idol. In 2006 he ended a second successful West End run in the musical Chicago playing Billy Flynn at the Adelphi Theatre and 2007 saw him star as Sky Masterson in Michael Grandage’s Olivier Award-winning production of Guys and Dolls. Danesh's professional stage career began playing a ten-year-old Trojan boy in Scottish Opera’s 1990 production of The Trojans and as a teenager he toured with the Company in their critically acclaimed production of Carmen. His first self-penned single Colourblind entered the UK singles chart at number one and his debut album went platinum under the guidance of Grammy award winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite. Danesh has had five UK Top Ten singles.
Jill Paice returns to the West End to play Scarlett O’Hara, after originating the role of Laura Fairlie in Trevor Nunn’s production of The Woman in White both at the Palace Theatre here in London and on Broadway. Her other theatre credits include Nicki Harris in Curtains at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and later on Broadway where she reprised the role to acclaim opposite David Hyde Pierce. She was the original Sophie in the Las Vegas Company of Mamma Mia and also appeared in the US touring company of Les Misérables. Her recording credits include the original cast recording of Curtains, The Woman in White and The Gig and she was a featured artist on the Andrew Lloyd Webber on Broadway album.
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