VIDEO: Watch the Music Video For 'Falling Slowly' From ONCE Ahead of the UK Tour

A new recording is released today of the Academy Award-winning song Falling Slowly, introducing Daniel Healy as Guy and Emma Lucia as Girl. They will lead the cast of the first UK Tour of Once, launching in January 2020 following a run at Fairfield Halls, Croydon from Thursday 19 December to Saturday 11 January.

Written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Falling Slowly won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and features in both the 2007 film and the musical.

Daniel said of the song: "At its core it's very simple, but goes on this beautiful soaring journey. It starts small then builds into this beautiful crescendo. To a certain extent it is open, ambiguous and up for interpretation. It could mean anything to anyone. That's what I love about it and I think that's what most people, even if they don't realise it, love about it."

Emma added: "This song is so special because it's the first time 'Guy' and 'Girl' realise that they understand each other; they have a special connection when they make music together. Music has always and will always connect people in a way words sometimes can't. It's definitely one of my favourite moments in the whole show, it gives me goose bumps every time."

Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia return to the roles of 'Guy' and 'Girl' after receiving critical and audience acclaim in the production's premiere last year at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Daniel Healy is a singer-songwriter, musician and actor, who has co-written songs for multi-platinum artist Ronan Keating including the single Breathe, which topped the BBC Radio 2 Playlist. Theatre credits include Backbeat and Once, both in the West End. Emma Lucia made her professional debut as Marilyn and understudying Carole King in the UK Tour of Beautiful, before taking on the role of Girl in Once.

Based on the critically acclaimed and much-loved film, Once tells the uplifting yet yearning story of two lost souls - a Dublin street busker and a Czech musician - who unexpectedly fall in love. Following their relationship across five short days, big changes happen to both of them in little ways. Celebrated for its original score including the Academy Award-winning song Falling Slowly, Once is a spell-binding and uplifting story of hopes and dreams.

Once embarks on its first major UK tour after acclaimed runs on Broadway and in the West End, and having won awards across the world including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, eight Tony Awards and an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

Following a run at Fairfield Halls, Croydon from Thursday 19 December 2019 - Saturday 11 January 2020, the tour will visit Southend, Liverpool, York, Woking, Milton Keynes, Ipswich, Bath, Coventry, Stoke, Malvern, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Oxford, Brighton, Sheffield, Cardiff, Southampton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Canterbury, Leicester, Salford, Newcastle, Plymouth, Glasgow and Hull.

Once is directed by Peter Rowe with set and costume design by Libby Watson, musical supervision by Ben Goddard, choreography by Francesca Jaynes, lighting design by Mark Dymock, sound design by James Cook, projection design by Peter Hazelwood and orchestrations by Martin Lowe. Casting is by Debbie O'Brien.

Based on the cult 2007 Irish indie feature, originally shot on a micro-budget of just $160,000, Once premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 before transferring to Broadway in 2012. There it won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Productions have since opened all over the world, including the West End production in 2013 which received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

Once has a Book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, and Music & Lyrics by Academy Award winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who, for Falling Slowly, won the Oscar for Best Original Song. It is based on the motion picture Written and Directed by John Carney. The Original Production Concept is by John Tiffany.