Clune and Dreyfuss Join Cast of Chocolate Factory's CANDIDE

Jackie Clune is to play the Old Lady and James Dreyfus is to play Dr Pangloss in the Menier Chocolate Factory's upcoming production of Candide. Music is by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Richard Wilbur with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein.

From Westphalia to the far reaches of the New World, Candide's journey of discovery is anything but dull. Through anguish, happiness, loss and love this is a whirlwind adventure that seeks to prove 'life is happiness indeed'. Leonard Bernstein's joyous musical comedy features a now-classic Overture, 'Make Our Garden Grow' (both of which were performed on the Last Night of the Proms) and 'Glitter and Be Gay'.

Jackie Clune has most recently played Violet in the national tour of the musical 9 to 5. Her other stage credits include the international tour of Mamma Mia, playing Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre and Mogadishu at the Lyric Hammersmith.

James Dreyfus' London theatre credits include the Emcee in Cabaret, Lyric Theatre; Carmen Ghia in The Producers, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane ; Breakfast at Tiffany's, Theatre Royal, Haymarket; The Common Pursuit at the Menier Chocolate Factory; and Lady In The Dark at The National Theatre for which he won an Olivier Award. His television and film credits include Gimme, Gimme, Gimme; The Thin Blue Line and Notting Hill.

Others in the cast are Fra Fee as Candide, Cassidy Janson as Paquette, Ben Lewis as Govenor and Vanderdendur, Scarlett Strallen as Cunegonde and David Thaxton as Maximillian.

Carly Anderson, Jeremy Batt, Michael Cahill, Christopher Jacobsen, Frankie Jenna, Rachel Spurrell, Helen Walsh and Matt Wilman complete the cast.

The production is directed by Matthew White whose credits include The Last Five Years, Little Shop of Horrors andSweet Charity for the Chocolate Factory and, most recently, Top Hat - 2013 Olivier award winner Best New Musical. Choreography is by Adam Cooper whose choreography credits include On Your Toes (Leicester Haymarket & Royal Festival Hall - Critics' Circle National Dance Award for Best Choreography); Carousel (Savoy) and Grand Hotel (Donmar - Olivier nomination).

The creative team includes David Charles Abell (Musical Supervision), Paul Farnsworth (Set & Costume Design),Paul Anderson (Lighting Design), Gareth Owen (Sound Design), Seann Alderking (Musical Direction) and Jason Carr (Orchestrations).

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Dates: Saturday 23rd November 2013 - Saturday 22nd February 2014

Times: Tuesday - Saturday at 8.00pm

Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3.30pm

PLEASE NOTE there are no shows on the following dates:

Thursday 28th November, Wednesday 4th December,

Tuesday 24th December - Thursday 26th December, Wednesday 1st January

Additional performances:

Monday 25th November 8pm, Sunday 22nd and Sunday 29th December 8pm,

Thursday 2nd January 8pm and Sunday 5th January 8pm

PLEASE NOTE: Performance on Tuesday 31st Dec at 3.30pm, not 8pm.

Tickets: All previews £29.50 / Meal Deals £37.50

Performance from 2nd December onwards:

Standard seats £32.50 / Meal Deals £39.50 /

Concessions & Groups 10+ £29.50

Contact box office for full information on pricing

Box Office: 020 7378 1713 (£2 transaction fee per booking)

Website: www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1 transaction fee per booking)

Address: 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU

Restaurant: 020 7234 9610

Transport: London Bridge Tube, Borough High Street exit RV1 and 381 buses

Show site: www.menierchocolatefactory.com