Michael Matus and Paul Hunter to star in Simon Callow’s La Cage Aux Folles translation
The full casting for the world premiere of La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) has been named, ahead of next month's opening at the Park Theatre. Based on Jean Poiret's work of the same name, the upcoming production will mark the show's English language world premiere, with translation by Simon Callow and direction by Jez Bond.
La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) cast
Michael Matus will play Georges, with West End credits including Oswald in King Lear at the Duke of York's and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at the Playhouse Theatre. He will star alongside Paul Hunter as Albin, previously starring in The Fantasticks at the Duchess Theatre and Wise Children at the Old Vic.
The cast is completed by Sarah Lam (as Simone), Syrus Lowe (as Jacob), Peter Straker (as Tabaro), Mark Cameron (as Marseilles/Zorba), Arthur Hughes (as Laurent), Simon Hepworth (as Monsieur Priedieu/Mercedes), Louise Bangay (as Madame Priedieu), Georgina Ambrey (as Muriel) and William Nelson (as Frances).
Simon Callow translates La Cage Aux Folles
One of Britain's well-known actors, Simon Callow's career has seen him on stage and in creative teams of productions for over 40 years. Since joining the National Theatre in 1979, he's created the role of Mozart in Amadeus, as well as directing Shirley Valentine in the West End and on Broadway, Single Spies at the National Theatre and Carmen Jones at the Old Vic. He has also performed one-man shows including The Mystery of Charles Dickens, Being Shakespeare, A Christmas Carol and The Man Jesus.
On translating La Cage Aux Folles (The Play), Simon Callow said: "La Cage aux Folles is a great - and brilliantly funny - play about living the life you want to live. It's also a bit of an eye-opener about what it was to be out and gay in the early seventies. But there's nothing remotely preachy about it - it's zany, outrageous, mad. A rampant farce, and utterly life-affirming."
About La Cage Aux Folles (The Play)
Simon Callow's translation of Jean Poiret's La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) follows a nightclub owner named Georges and his drag artiste partner, Albin. Creating dazzling drag shows in St Tropez, Georges' world is turned upside down when his son, Laurent, announces that he is to marry the daughter of a right-wing politician. Threatening their livelihood, Georges and Albin entertain their future in-laws, but how long can they conceal their true feelings?
Shows at Park Theatre
La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) will be performed as part of the latest season at the Park Theatre, an off-West End venue that opened in 2013. The season includes the London transfer of Hope Mill Theatre's production of RAGS The Musical, the 10th-anniversary production of Clybourne Park, Archie Maddocks' A Place for We and the world premiere of The Garden of Words.
La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) is at the Park Theatre from 12th February to 21st March 2020.
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