⭐ FRANZ & MARIE – A NEW MUSICAL – LONDON PREMIERE – CAST ANNOUNCEMENT ⭐
The full cast for the London premiere of the new musical FRANZ & MARIE has been announced.
Featuring some of London’s hottest musical theatre talent, FRANZ & MARIE will star Brenock O’Connor as Woyzeck and Jade Oswald as Marie, who lead a 14-strong actor-muso company in this haunting new musical. 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.
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.
Also starring Steve Simmonds as Sergeant Ursid, Paula James as Zella, Richard Emerson Gould as Doctor Simian, Matthew Heywood as Drum Major Varg, Max Alexander-Taylor as André Schmitt, Mark Meadows as Captain Peccary, Eve Polycarpou as Vashti and Elaine Hua Jones as Kat.
Featuring Antony Lam, Anna-Marie Piazza, Emily Panes and Tom Aubrey, making his professional stage debut, as 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.
FRANZ & MARIE has a book & lyrics by Chris Broderick, with music by Rob Shepherd and Chris Broderick. 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.
FRANZ & MARIE will play Charing Cross Theatre, London, running from 28th September – 14th November 2026, with tickets on sale now.
Brilliant! ! !
Thoughts? X x x
