Producer Danielle Tarento to Present World Premiere of GODS AND MONSTERS at Southwark Playhouse

With her production of DOGFIGHT nominated Best Musical in the recent Evening Standard Awards (her leading actress, Laura Jane Matthewman won Best Emerging Talent), and with rehearsals underway for the European premiere of Jerry Herman's 1979 Broadway musical, The Grand Tour, which opens at the Finborough Theatre on January 1, producer Danielle Tarento today announces the world premiere of GODS AND MONSTERS.

GODS AND MONSTERS, directed by Russell Labey, produced by Danielle Tarento in association with Jason Haig-Ellery, will receive its world premiere in a five-week season at Southwark Playhouse from Thursday February 5 - Saturday 7 March.

Frankenstein director James Whale, long forgotten by the studios and in reclusive Hollywood retirement has fallen victim to a series of strokes. The only demons he fights now are in his head. Handsome new gardner, Clayton Boone, becomes an unlikely friend and unwitting player in Whale's grand finale.

Not so much a Hollywood history as a glorious imagining, exploring the sometimes divine, sometimes monstrous landscape of obsession and desire. Based on the novel Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bram - the same source material as for the 1998 Oscar-winning movie, Gods And Monsters.

Press night is Tuesday 10 February at 7.30pm.

Cast to be announced.

Produced by Danielle Tarento in association with Jason Haigh-Ellery.

English film director, theatre director and actor, James Whale was openly gay throughout his career, something that was very unusual in the 1920s and 1930s. He is best remembered for four classic horror films: Frankenstein (1931), The Old Dark House (1932), The Invisible Man (1933) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

Russell Labey (Writer & Director) is a playwright and director. He was Script Editor for the motion picture, Milk, which won two Oscars - Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor (Sean Penn). He wrote and directed the original stage adaptation of Whistle Down The Wind (TMA Award for Best Musical). In the West End, his play New Boy at Trafalgar Studios starred Nicholas Hoult (Whatsonstage Award nominee, Best New Comedy) and he directed the UK tour as well as a season Off-Broadway and in Cape Town. Also in the West End at the Trafalgar Studios, Third Floor and Wolfboy; at the Garrick Theatre, Caroline O'Connor: The Showgirl Within; at the Queens Theatre, Bugsy Malone; at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the première productions of two musicals by Charles Hart and Howard Goodall - The Kissing Dance and The Dreaming; at the King's Head, Days of Hope. He tour directed Sunset Boulevard for the Really Useful Group and was the Resident Director of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The London Palladium. Other recent credits include The Sound of Music in Kuala Lumpur; Guys and Dolls with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall. He directs & devises the annual Whatsonstage Awards and spent the first 15 years of his career as a presenter for the BBC and Channel 4.

Danielle Tarento (Producer and Casting Director) was named Best Producer at the 2012 Off West End Awards and recently won Best Off West End Production at the 2014 Whatsonstage Awards and Best Musical Production at the 2014 Off West End Awards for Titanic at Southwark Playhouse. She has also produced Dogfight (Evening Standard Awards shortlisted Best Musical), Victor/Victoria, Mack & Mabel, Parade, Company and Three Sisters at Southwark Playhouse; Taboo (Brixton Clubhouse); The Pitchfork Disney (Arcola); Burlesque, Drowning on Dry Land

(Jermyn Street); Noël and Gertie (Cockpit). She is co-founder of the Menier Chocolate Factory and co-produced all in-house shows 2004 - 2006, including Sunday In The Park With George, which received a West End transfer and five Olivier awards.

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