THE GRINNING MAN Extends At Trafalgar Studios Through April 2018

London's new smash hit musical The Grinning Man, now playing at the Trafalgar Studios, has today announced a new extended booking period until 14 April.

This critically acclaimed, award-winning production transferred into the West End in December last year, following a hugely successful premiere at Bristol Old Vic, and has become an instant hit across the board - with a wealth of critics, bloggers and audiences raving about The Grinning Man's new London incarnation. The show receives huge praise and standing ovations at every single performance, with news of the riotous audience reaction spreading sensationally via word of mouth.

As with the Bristol run, the critics have heaped praise on the show too, with a wealth of glowing reviews for the London production. The Times said "the cast are outstanding", adding that "it's a triumph". The Observer hailed the production as "miraculous" and the Daily Telegraph raved about the "spectacular puppetry". The Sunday Express called it "brilliant production" and praised the "awe-inspiring" puppetry. What's On Stage sums it up: "It is a remarkable, entrancing achievement and a treat for anyone who likes their storytelling with plenty of dark magic thrown in."

As well as critics and the general public, celebrities and creative minds have also heaped praise on the show. Harry Enfield proclaimed "the whole thing is amazing", while Hannah Waddingham was "overwhelmed" by the production and Mel Giedroyc applauded the "beautiful score" which is "clever and haunting", declaring ''I want to see it again". Simon Callow exclaimed the show is "spectacular, theatrical and exciting!"

The Grinning Man, directed by Tony award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse), features an "outstanding" cast (The Times). Led by Louis Maskell in the title role of Grinpayne and Sanne Den Besten as Dea, with Julian Bleach as vengeful clown Barkilphedro. Also starring are Sean Kingsley, Julie Atherton, Amanda Wilkin and Mark Anderson.

Based on the classic Victor Hugo (Les Misérables) novel The Man Who Laughs, this romantic gothic musical love story set in a fantastical world with a dark heart, is brought to life by Kneehigh writer Carl Grose (Dead Dog in a Suitcase) and "powered by an outstanding score" (Sunday Times) by Tim Phillips and Marc Teitler. The Grinning Man reunites Tom Morris with two puppeteers who began their careers inside Joey and Topthorn in the original production of War Horse - Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié - now leading their own puppetry company Gyre & Gimble.

The Grinning Man joins several other recent Bristol Old Vic hit shows transferring to the London stage, including Swallows & Amazons at the Vaudeville, Peter Pan and Jane Eyre at the National Theatre and Long Day's Journey Into Night starring Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville at the Wyndham's.

The Grinning Man is produced by Bristol Old Vic, Trafalgar Entertainment Group, Eilene Davidson, Richard O'Brien, David Adkin and Neil Laidlaw.

Tom Morris is Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic and was previously Artistic Director at BAC where he met many of the creative team behind this show. Previous productions at Bristol Old Vic include: A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, The Crucible, Swallows & Amazons, Juliet & Her Romeo, and Messiah (Bristol Proms). Tom has been Associate Director of the National Theatre since 2004 and was co-director of War Horse, widely considered to be amongst the most successful theatre productions of all time.

Tim Phillips is a Canadian composer who has written music for many screen productions, including HBO's Entourage, the ITV serial Talk To Me and (with Murray Gold) the Channel 4 series Shameless. He honed his theatrical craft at BAC through Filter Theatre. Marc Teitler is a composer whose work spans musicals, opera, film soundtracks and albums and has had music featured in Game of Thrones. His current commissions for original musicals include The Ghost Map (dir. Bijan Sheibani). In collaboration, Marc and Tim have composed music and lyrics for The Circle (National Theatre).

Writer Carl Grose has worked extensively with Kneehigh theatre as writer and actor. His writing for the Cornish-based company includes The Tin Drum, Dead Dog in a Suitcase, The Wild Bride and Tristan & Yseult. Other recent writing credits include Grand Guignol (Southwark Playhouse) and Oedipussy (Spymonkey).

Puppetry was created by Gyre & Gimble, founded in 2014 by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié having met whilst performing in the original production of War Horse. Their work has appeared in productions as varied as The Hartlepool Monkey (Stratford Circus and Touring), The Lorax (Old Vic), The Light Princess (NT), Running Wild (Regents Park), Elephantom (NT and West End) and Shrek: The Musical (West End).

The creative team is completed by award-winning designer Jon Bausor (London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, Bat Out of Hell - West End), Costume Designer Jean Chan (Lionboy - Complicite), Music Supervisor Tom Deering (Wonder.Land - National Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar - Regents Park), Lighting Designer Rob Casey (Up Next - National Theatre) and award-winning Sound Designer Simon Baker (Matilda The Musical - Olivier for Best Sound, A Midsummer Night's Dream - Shakespeare's Globe and The Caretaker - Old Vic).