Album Review: The Light Princess Original Cast Recording

The Light Princess (Original Cast Recording)

Mercury Classics

Released on Friday 9th October 2015

★★★★

Marking two years since Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson's musical The Light Princess premiered at the National Theatre, Amos has reunited the original company to release a cast album. I have fond memories of being swept away by the production; not only was it visually breathtaking and courageously creative, but I adored Amos' score which captures the beauty of the sweetest fairy tale as well as the pain of the darkest nightmare.

#SummerSays: Finding your Big Deal

Rosalie Craig

‘BIG DEAL’ - a term I call my boss when I can sense his mood and know in that exact moment I am able to get away with it. 

In life, I am pretty sure it is vital for everyone to have something and someone who inspires them. If you are reading this, then you probably already have a passion for something, and possess many creative colours that you must hold onto forever. 

At college, my best friend and I would spend hours talking about incredible performers like Rosalie Craig who would come in and sing to us and somehow make sense of even the trickiest Sondheim. Then there were the teachers who lit a fire in your belly which you never knew existed. Those are the people that get your creative colours flowing; the people that at that time inspire you. Then before you know it, you have left college and you are on your own ready to start again; using all your inner strength to get yourself to where you want to be. If you are anything like me, you will want to be finished and successful as soon as possible, but it is worth reminding yourself that your patience and tenacity will be fully worth it in the end. It is having somebody who can be part of the chapters in your book; who can provide you with the skills needed to progress you to the top of your ladder.

Rosalie Craig replaces Andrea Riseborough in As You Like It at the National Theatre

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has revealed casting for the National Theatre's revival of As You Like It which opens in November.

Rosalie Craig (The Light Princess/City Of Angels) will star as Rosalind, replacing the previously announced Andrea Riseborough who has withdrawn for personal reasons. As previously confirmed, Craig will star in woner.land in Manchester; however, she won't transfer with the musical which it transfers to the National.

Full casting announced for wonder.land starring Rosalie Craig

Casting has been announced for the Manchester International Festival's run of wonder.land, a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in Wonderland. 

Music is by Damon Albarn with book and lyrics by Moira Buffini. The production is directed by the National Theatre's Rufus Norris.

The MIF cast will include Sam Archer, Lois Chimimba, Rob Compton, Rosalie Craig (pictured right), Ivan De Freitas, Luke Fetherston, Hal Fowler, Anna Francolini, Lorraine Graham, Paul Hilton, Karina Hind, Holly James, Sam Mackay, Daisy Maywood, Enyi Okoronkwo, David Page, Golda Rosheuvel, Cydney Uffindell-Phillips and Witney White.

wonder.land is a Manchester International Festival/National Theatre co-production. Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, National Theatre and the Théâtre du Châtelet.

Judi Dench, Mark Gatiss, Catherine Tate, Nina Sosanya, Hadley Fraser & Rosalie Craig + more cast in Donmar's The Vote

The Vote, a play for theatre and television by James Graham, will run at the Donmar Warehouse between 24th April and 6th May ahead of a live broadcast on 7th May on More4.

Catherine Tate, Mark Gatiss and Nina Sosanya

Following their collaboration on Privacy, writer James Graham and Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Josie Rourke will reunite for The Vote, a drama and unique television event set in a fictional polling station, during the final ninety minutes of voting on election day. 

An ensemble cast of actors will represent the team of polling station volunteers, polling officers, and the diverse array of characters that are the voting public.

Initial casting includes: Fisayo Akinade, Jade Anouka, Madalena Alberto, Nicholas Burns, Paul Chahidi, Jackie Clune, Pandora Colin, Rosalie Craig, Heather Craney, Judi Dench, Rachel Denning, Hadley Fraser, Mark Gatiss, Llewella Gideon, Alice Hewkin, Kadiff Kirwan, Aïcha Kossoko, Wanda Opalinska, Bill Paterson, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Nina Sosanya, Catherine Tate, Yusra Warsama, Timothy West and Finty Williams.

Photo Feature: City Of Angels production images

The Donmar Warehouse has released the first production images for City Of Angels which officially opens tonight (16th December). Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

City Of Angels runs until Saturday 7th February 2015. The entire run is sold out; however, the Donmar will be releasing more than 550 tickets each week, including Barclays Front Row (released 10am every Monday throughout the run) and Day Tickets (available in person at the Box Office every day). 

Sneak peek at... the cast of City Of Angels in rehearsals

The Donmar Warehouse has released images of Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig, Katherine Kelly, Peter Polycarpou, Marc Elliott and the West End Frame Award winning Tam Mutu in rehearsals for City Of Angels. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

City Of Angels opens on Tuesday 16th December 2014 (previews from 5th December) and runs until Saturday 7th February 2015. The entire run is sold out; however, the Donmar will be releasing more than 550 tickets each week, including Barclays Front Row (released 10am every Monday throughout the run) and Day Tickets (available in person at the Box Office every day).

Full casting announced for City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse

Full casting for City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse has been announced. 

Joining the previously announced Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser are Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street), Tam Mutu (West End Frame Award winner for Les Mis, pictured right), Peter Polycarpou (Chichester's Guys and Dolls/The Pajama Game) and Rebecca Trehearn (Ghost/Dogfight).

They are joined by Nick Cavaliere, Cameron Cuffe, Marc Elliott, Adam Fogerty, Kadiff Kirwan, Sandra Marvin, Mark Penfold, Jennifer Saayeng, Jo Servi and Tim Walton.

City Of Angels opens on Tuesday 16th December 2014 (previews from 5th December) and runs until Saturday 7th February 2015.

Samantha Barks joins Hadley Fraser & Rosalie Craig in City Of Angels

It has been announced that Samantha Barks has joined the previously announced Hadley Fraser and Rosalie Craig in City Of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse.

The Donmar's Artistic Director, Josie Rourke, will direct Cy Coleman, David Zippel and Larry Gelbart’s musical.

Following a successful sell-out run in Coriolanus, Fraser returns to the Donmar to play Stine. He stars opposite Craig (his fiancée). The Light Princess actress is making her Donmar debut as Gabby/Bobbi alongside Les Miserables' Barks as Mallory/Avril

The musical comedy is set in Broadway in the 1940s with two plots: a Hollywood comedy and a detective drama involving the world of a writer trying to turn his book into a screenplay and the world of the fictional film. It is a homage to the film noir genre of motion pictures in the 1940s.

GOSSIP: Hadley Fraser & Rosalie Craig to star in City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse?

According to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Hadley Fraser and Rosalie Craig will star in City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse in October. Josie Rourke directs, marking her first musical at the renowned theatrical venue. Fraser and Craig recently announced their engagement.

Previews begin Saturday 4th October 2014.

Cy Coleman (music), David Zippel (lyrics) and Larry Gelbart's (book) musical premiered on Broadway in 1989 and later received a West End run in 1993. It won both the Tony and Olivier Award for Best Musical.

Chichester Festival Theatre announces new season

Chichester Festival Theatre has announced its upcoming season. Its newly refurbished Festival Theatre will reopen in July with a major new production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus directed by Jonathan Church with Rupert Everett as Salieri.

The season also includes Guys and Dolls starring Peter Polycarpou and Sophie Thompson as well as Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton, Kevin Whateley and Lara Pulver.

The season will host the world premieres of Pressure, Pitcairn and Taken at Midnight and stage five compelling dramas: Stevie (starring Zoë Wanamaker and Lynda Baron), Frankie & Johnny in the Clair De Lune, Miss Julie/Black Comedy (starring Rosalie Craig, pictured above) and An Ideal Husband (starring Patricia Routledge).

Review: The Light Princess at the National Theatre

The Light Princess

National Theatre / Lyttelton 

Reviewed on Saturday 19th October 2013

Recently I've seen a few big new musicals which have been crying out for some love and attention and it has become rather frustrating. But following years of development, Tori Amos (music and lyrics) and Samuel Adamson's (book and lyrics) The Light Princess is the production I have been longing to see. It felt absolutely incredible to sit down and watch something completely new and fresh. The Light Princess takes many risks, many of which pay off, and while there may be some room for improvement and further development I was left in utter awe of the show. I could quite happily see it again and again and again.