Brenock O’Connor, Jade Oswald and More to Star in FRANZ & MARIE Reimagining The Woyzeck Myth
The cast will also feature Steve Simmonds, Paula James and more.
Featuring some of London’s hottest musical theatre talent, Brenock O’Connor and Jade Oswald lead a 14-strong actor-muso company in this haunting new musical Franz & Marie. Inspired by Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck, this now classic fable has a feminist twist, placing Marie alongside Franz Woyzeck at the heart of the narrative. Performances open at Charring Cross Theatre on September 28.
Set in the twisted and war-torn world of late 19th Century Europe, a platoon of young soldiers have been stationed in an isolated outpost for months, awaiting further orders. Franz Woyzeck, a man haunted by nightmares since his return from the front, has agreed to medical experimentations by the army doctor in order to supplement his meagre income to support.his girlfriend Marie, and their baby, the pressures take their toll with disastrous consequences.
The full casting comprises: Brenock O’Connor (Game of Thrones) as Woyzeck and Jade Oswald (Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends) as Marie are joined by Steve Simmonds (Assassins) as Sergeant Ursid; Paula James (The Comedy of Errors) as Zella; Richard Emerson Gould (Alternations) as Doctor Simian; Matthew Heywood (Little Shop of Horrors) as Drum Major Varg; Max Alexander-Taylor (Jesus Christ Superstar) as André Schmitt; Mark Meadows (The Tempest) as Captain Peccary; Eve Polycarpou (In the Heights) as Vashti; Elaine Hua Jones (Wishmas: A Fantastical Christmas Adventure) as Kat; Antony Lam (Miraculous), Anna-Marie Piazza (War Horse), Emily Panes (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and Tom Aubrey, making his professional stage debut, completing the ensemble.
This raw, soul-rattling Indie Folk score was originally commissioned by award-winning Korean musical theatre company Acom and created by Chris Broderick and Rob Shepherd, key members of cult Medway band The Singing Loins. Their adaptation of Woyzeck was staged at the LG Arts Center in Seoul in 2014 and has now been reimagined as Franz & Marie for its 2026 production at Charing Cross Theatre.
With book and lyrics by Chris Broderick and music by Rob Shepherd and Chris Broderick, Franz & Marie is newly adapted by Teresa Howard, with additional music, arrangements and orchestrations by Steven Edis. Franz & Marie is directed by Michael Oakley, with choreography by Ben Wright.
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