The Liberation of Colette Simple is coming to Jackson’s Lane next month. It’s the first time the venue has premiered a brand new musical theatre production, which runs from 16th September to 4th October.
Colette Simple lives a contented life in her gossipy little town, taking care of her humble store and faithful (if somewhat snide) canary. But when she wakes one day to find her precious wall of petunias has been deliberately trampled, the young perpetrator leads her towards an epiphany that frees her from her dreary life in a mix of musical theatre, absurd comedy and live music.
The cast has been announced as Nathalie Carrington as Colette Simple, and Gary Tushaw as all the other characters. The show is based on Tennessee Williams’ The Case of the Crushed Petunias, and is backed by the Tennessee Williams estate. Eight lyricists have worked on the show, including Robert Holman (whose Jonah and Otto will be at the Park Theatre in October) and actress Honeysuckle Weeks. With each lyricist taking individual songs and then set to music by French composer Vincent Guibert, The Liberation of Colette Simple creates a varied tapestry of words and music.
Gary’s credits include West End roles as Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap at St Martins Theatre and Marius in Les Miserables at Queens Theatre, and a wide range of plays and musicals including Thérèse Raquin (The Park Theatre and The Finborough), Seth in The Hired Man (Leicester Curve Theatre), Christopher Baldry in Return of the Solider (Landor Theatre), Sheriff Ted Hinton in Bonnie and Clyde (Kings Head Theatre), and Hacked (Theatre 503).
Nathalie’s credits include includes: Edward II (National Theatre), These Shining Lives (Park Theatre), The Little Prince (Lyric Theatre Belfast), Viva Forever (Workshop), 24hr Plays (The Old Vic), The Boyfriend (Her Majesty’s West End), Thyestes (BAC) and Betrayal (Theatre Essaion, Paris).
For more information see www.colettesimple.com. To book, visit www.jacksonslane.org.uk.
