Photo Feature: Water Babies press night at the Leicester Curve Theatre

The world stage premiere of Water Babies officially opened last night (6th May) at the Leicester Curve Theatre. Take a look at pictures of the cast attending the press night party below (click on image to enlarge).

Directed by Ed Curtis, Water Babies runs until 17th May 2014. The show has music by Chris Egan, and book and lyrics by Ed Curtis and Guy Jones. The cast is led by Tom Lister, Louise Dearman, Thomas Milner and Lauren Samuels.

Review: Water Babies at the Leicester Curve Theatre

Tom Milner (Tom) & Lauren Samuels (Ellie)

Water Babies

Leicester Curve Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 6th May 2014

Time and time again I find myself complaining about shows opening in the West End before they're ready. Stephen Ward, From Here To Eternity and I Can't Sing are all examples of musicals which opened in the West End too soon and would have hugely benefited from out of town runs to allow the writers and creative teams more time to develop and fine-tune their shows.

Big Interview: Lauren Samuels

Lauren Samuels is currently starring in the world stage premiere of Water Babies at the Leicester Curve Theatre. 

Water Babies  has music by Chris Egan and book and lyrics by Ed Curtis (who also directs) and Guy Jones. Producers claim the production will feature 'landmark special effects' and describe the show as a 'funny, touching and unforgettable' new musical. 

Water Babies marks Lauren’s return to the Curve where she made her professional debut as Wendy in Peter Pan The Musical. After finishing third on Andrew Lloyd’s Webber’s reality programme Over the Rainbow (BBC1), Lauren made her West End debut as Sandy in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre). 

She then starred as Scaramouche in the West End production of We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) and was nominated for West End Frame's 'Best Performance of a Song in a Musical' award for her rendition of 'Somebody To Love', finishing second place. She later reprised her performance, starring as Scaramouche in We Will Rock You's international arena tour.

Her other theatre credits include: Cathy in The Last 5 Years (Tabard), Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Cyprus), Yonah in The Children of Eden (Gala Performance, Prince of Wales) and the title role in Vampirette (Manchester Opera House). After Water Babies Lauren will play Jenny in the Octagon Theatre’s revival of Love Story with Daniel Boys.

I recently spoke to Lauren about the pressures of creating a new role, what audiences can expect from Water Babies and why she would take a Christmassy musical theatre song with her to a desert island…

There was so much discussion and excitement surrounding Water Babies long before rehearsals had even begun. It must feel great now that the show’s on its feet and you’re about to open?!

We’ve all been so looking forward to it. I found out I got the job last November and, as you say, people have been so excited about it and we’ve been doing a lot of press, photo shoots and so on; so to finally be in rehearsals with the whole cast and creatives is so much fun, we are having a great time!

Richard E. Grant to appear during 3D hologram interactive scene in Water Babies

It has been announced that Richard E. Grant (pictured right and below) will make an appearance in the world premiere of Water Babies at the Leicester Curve Theatre. 

He will play Kraken: Lord of the Oceans during a 3D hologram interactive scene. Richard will appear "as live" on stage interacting with the real actors in a never seen before 3D hologram effect – a first for a theatrical production. Using a combination of cutting edge technology and traditional theatre illusion this effect allows live actors to perform alongside filmed sequences.

Directed by Ed Curtis, Water Babies opens on Tuesday 6th May (previews from 24th April) and runs until 17th May 2014. The show has music by Chris Egan, and book and lyrics by Ed Curtis and Guy Jones.

Richard E. Grant is often described as one of Britain’s leading actors. His work in theatre includes The Importance of Being Earnest, God of Carnage, Otherwise Engaged, The Play What I Wrote, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, My Fair Lady, Tramway Road and The Merry Wives of Windsor. 

Another sneak peek at... Water Babies

Producers of Water Babies have released another video, giving a behind-the-scenes look at underwater filming which will be used in the production. Watch the video below.

Water Babies opens at the Leicester Curve Theatre on Tuesday 6th May (previews from 24th April), running until 17th May 2014 starring Tom Lister, Louise Dearman, Thomas Milner and Lauren Samuels.

Click here to meet the cast

Water Babies is directed by Ed Curtis, with music by Chris Egan and book and lyrics by Ed Curtis and Guy Jones. Producers claim the production will feature 'landmark special effects' and describe the show as a 'funny, touching and unforgettable' new musical.

Water Babies: Meet The Cast

Earlier today full casting was announced for new musical The Water Babies which premieres at the Leicester Curve Theatre on 6th May (previews from 24th April), running until 17th May 2014. The Water Babies is directed by Ed Curtis, with music by Chris Egan and book and lyrics by Ed Curtis and Guy Jones. Producers claim the production will feature 'landmark special effects' and describe the show as a 'funny, touching and unforgettable' new musical.

Meet the four leads (Tom Lister, Louise Dearman, Thomas Milner and Lauren Samuels) below: 

Louise Dearman plays Mrs D. After graduating from Laine and receiving their Musical Theatre and Opera Award, Louise joined the touring cast of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the The Narrator. 

Soon after, she played Jan in the UK tour of Grease, later returning to the role at the Palace Theatre. She went on to play: Sarah Brown in the national tour of Guys and Dolls, Mimi in the Donmar Warehouse’s production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre and Lucy Harris in the UK tour of Jekyll and Hyde.

Louise has also performed abroad in Cyprus when she played Grizabella in Cats. In 2007 she played Debbie in Debbie Does Dallas at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

After playing Eva Peron in the touring production of Evita, Louise joined Wicked at the Apollo Theatre for two years, starring as Glinda. Several months after leaving the show, it was announced she would return as Elphaba. Louise is the only actress in the world to have played both roles. She has also released three studio albums and her solo concerts regularly sell out. Click here to read West End Frame's most recent interview with Louise.

Full casting announced for The Water Babies

Full casting has been announced for new musical The Water Babies which premieres at the Leicester Curve Theatre on 6th May (previews from 24th April), running until 17th May 2014. Tom Lister joins Louise Dearman, Thomas Milner and Lauren Samuels to lead the company of the musical.

They are joined by Robbie Boyle (Water Baby), Matthew Caputo (Water Baby), Georgia Carling (Water Baby), Jorell Coiffic-Kamall (Water Baby), Tom Davey (Claude), Caroline Deverill (Lady Amelia), Matthew Gent (Masterman), Andy Gray (Jock), Jeffrey Harmer (Sir John), Cristina Hoey (Water Baby), Samuel Holmes (Terrence), Rebecca Jayne-Davies (Ariadne), Sienna Kelly (Miller), Marianna Neofitou (Water Baby), Morgan Scott (Water Baby), Marcquelle Ward (Rafferty).

Sneak Peek at... The Water Babies starring Louise Dearman; Lauren Samuels joins the cast

Producers of The Water Babies, which will receive its world premiere at the Leicester Curve Theatre later this year, have released the first song from the musical. You can listen to the number, entitled 'Waiting For You', below.

'Waiting For You' is performed by the previously announced Louise Dearman who will play Mrs D. She is joined by Lauren Samuels who will play Ellie. The Water Babies is a brand new musical inspired by Charles Kingsley's classic novel. 

Big Interview: Louise Dearman

During her speech after her final performance as Elphaba in Wicked on Saturday 16th November 2013, Louise Dearman described herself as “the luckiest girl in musical theatre”. While this is very true, Louise is certainly one of the most talented and busiest girls in musical theatre too.

Louise is the first and only actress in the world to have played both Glinda and Elphaba in the global phenomenon Wicked, two roles every aspiring musical theatre actress dreams of playing. But the West End star in no stranger to playing iconic roles, having previously played: Eva Peron in Evita (national tour), Grizabella in Cats (Cyprus), Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (national tour), Lucy Harris in Jekyll and Hyde (national tour), The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (national tour) and Jan in Grease (national tour and Victoria Palace).

After leaving Wicked earlier this month (for the second time), Louise is busier than ever. She is currently rehearsing for A Christmas Evening of Movies and Musicals which will see her return to the Apollo Victoria Theatre (current West End home of Wicked) for one night only to perform alongside John Owen-Jones, Gareth Gates and Sarah Lark. Louise is also currently preparing for the release of her third studio album, ‘It’s Time’, which last week peaked at number two on the iTunes Vocal Chart. She will perform two sold out concerts at the St James Theatre next month ahead of her first UK tour early next year. 

As if that wasn’t enough Louise is also writing a book with fellow West End star and former Wicked colleague Mark Evans (who is currently starring as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon’s US tour). It has also recently been announced that Louise will return to musical theatre next year to create the role of Mrs D in the world premiere of a new adaptation of The Water Babies at the Leicester Curve Theatre.

I recently caught up with Louise during a break from A Christmas Evening of Movies and Musicals rehearsals to discuss what people can expect from the show as well as why she’s so excited about creating her first ever stage role next year, how it felt to discover her album was storming the charts and what it was like to leave Wicked with a bang…

It has just been announced that next year you will star in the world premiere of a musical adaptation of The Water Babies at the Leicester Curve Theatre. Actors always tell me that their dream is to create a role and that’s what you’re about to do!

That’s exactly it! Creating a role is something I’ve never had the opportunity to do. To have a blank canvas and be able to completely create a role from scratch is amazing! There have been productions of The Water Babies previously but this is a completely new adaptation. I have never seen another production or seen the film, I am aware of the book but for me it’s very exciting. I’ve been listening to lots of the music, it’s fantastic and I recorded some of it last week. I can’t wait for people to hear it! 

Louise Dearman to star in world première of The Water Babies

It has been announced that Louise Dearman will lead the cast of the world première of a brand new musical inspired by Charles Kingsley's classic novel, The Water Babies.

Louise is the first actress to have played both Glinda and Elphaba in the global smash-hit musical Wicked and will make her Leicester Curve Theatre debut as Mrs D.

Directed by Ed Curtis, with music by Chris Egan, and book and lyrics by Ed Curtis and Guy Jones, the new musical, with landmark special effects, will open on 30th April (previews from the 24th April) and runs until 17th May 2014. Cementing its reputation for staging major new musicals, Curve sets Water Babies on its journey.

Tom, our orphaned teenage hero, is framed for a crime he didn't commit. In a desperate attempt to escape capture he is trapped on The Edge of a waterfall. His only choice is to jump. Awakening in the depths of the ocean he encounters the mysterious Mrs D, and a whole new world of enchantment, danger and adventure.