Starring David Hunter and Joanna Woodward
New musical The Time Traveller’s Wife is getting a full West End production this Autumn.
The show will open at the Apollo Theatre in London, running from 7 October 2023 to 30 March 2024.
David Hunter (Waitress, Kinky Boots, Once) will star as Henry in the show and Joanna Woodward (Pretty Woman The Musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Clare, reprising the roles they played in Chester. Further casting is to be announced.
Based on the best-selling book by Audrey Niffenegger and the movie screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin, The Time Traveller’s Wife boasts original musical from multi Grammy Award-winning composers Joss Stone, and Dave Stewart from Eurythmics.
The shows’s book is by Lauren Gunderson, with additional songs by Nick Finlow (music) and Kait Kerrigan (lyrics).
The musical had an out-of-town try out last September and October at Storyhouse in Chester and there have been plans for the show to transfer into the West End for some time.
The origins of the musical were not without some controversy: when the show was first announced, the book’s author Audrey Niffenegger took to Twitter to say “I don’t know about this, though”! Producers rapidly contacted her, and she then came on board with the production.
Other cast in the Chester production, but not confirmed for the West End run, included Benjamin Purkiss (Zorro The Musical) as Jason/Mark, Hiba Elchikhe (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Charisse and Tim Mahendran (& Juliet ) as Gomez.
Illusions for the West End production are set to be created again by Chris Fisher, who also created the illusions on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the show is produced by the acclaimed West End producers of Back to The Future and Ghost.
Directed by Bill Buckhurst, the show will be designed by Anna Fleischle, with choreography by Shelley Maxwell, lighting design by Lucy Carter, illusions by Chris Fisher, video design by Andrzej Goulding, sound design by Richard Brooker, musical supervision & arrangement by Nick Finlow, orchestrations by Malcolm Edmonstone and wigs, hair and make-up design by Susanna Peretz. Casting will be by Grindrod Burton Casting.
The show is billed as a joyous, uplifting celebration of the strange wonder of love, however and whenever we experience it, and weaves a heart-breaking and soaring original musical score with one of the most beloved novels of the last 50 years.
Producer of the show Colin Ingram said in a press statement: “After six years developing this show and an extremely successful try-out in Chester, we are so delighted to present the world premiere of a new British musical based on such a beloved book. This confident, clever and charming musical by British rock royalty Dave Stewart and Joss Stone shows off their musicianship and director Bill Buckhurst and his creative team have created an incredible world to tell this cherished story in the most powerful and emotional way.”
Dave Stewart said: “Working with Joss Stone alongside Lauren Gunderson has been a thrilling experience. The world that director Bill Buckhurst has created for this very emotional love story brings magic to the stage. The songs Joss and I have written for this amazing musical have been woven together so brilliantly by composer/arranger Nick Finlow and, as we intended, the audience are enraptured in the joy of the story, the music and the complexities of close relationships.”
Joss Stone said: “‘To say I’m excited is an understatement. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be part of creating a musical, let alone one that will be enjoyed in the West End! It’s truly wonderful to be part of such a talented group of people.”
Currently playing at the Apollo Theatre is Derren Brown: Showman until 18 March. Then, For Black Boys Who Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy comes in from 25 March to 7 May 2023.
Book tickets to The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical at the Apollo Theatre in London
Updated 10.15am with casting information
