Rehearsals have started for a radically reworked version of Boublil and Schönberg’s Olivier Award-winning musical Martin Guerre ahead of its opening at The Old Vic this October.
Martin Guerre is opening at the Old Vic on 1 October for a five-week run, and the cast has started rehearsal.
The musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the creators of Les Misérables, tells the true story of a 16th-century Frenchman who disappears from his village and wife, only for a man claiming to be him to return years later, sparking a divisive trial over his real identity.
It will play between 1 and 31 October 2026 at the Old Vic.
View availability for Martin Guerre at the Old Vic
Martin Guerre cast
The company for Martin Guerre will be led by Alex James-Hatton (Bonnie & Clyde) and Shane O’Riordan (Elf The Musical) who will share the role of Martin, alongside Liv Andrusier (Fiddler on the Roof) as Bertrande, Colin Ryan (My Brilliant Friend ) as Benoit, Barney Wilkinson as Guillaume and Caroline Sheen (Nine to Five ) as Madame de Rols.
They are joined by Mathew Craig as Pierre, Aaron Lee Lambert as Judge, Adam Pearce as Father Dominic, and a company of younger performers taking on the show’s Young Martin, Young Bertrande, Young Benoit and Young Guillaume. The ensemble is completed by Monique Ashe-Palmer, Mali Wen Davies, Daniel Forrester, Becca Francis, Grace Galloway, Chris Jenkins, Nathaniel Purnell, and Gabriella Stylianou.
Photos: The cast of Martin Guerre in rehearsals
About Martin Guerre
From the creators of Les Misérables, this musical is based on the true story of a 16th-century French peasant who abandoned his wife and village, only to have another man impersonate him years later.
The production will be semi-staged in-the-round, and feature new music, lyrics and folk-inflected orchestrations.
It is developed and directed by the Old Vic’s Artistic Director Matthew Warchus (A Christmas Carol, Pride), the semi-staged production features new music, new lyrics and new folk-inflected orchestrations, performed in the round.
The musical was first staged in the West End in 1996.
Plan your visit to Martin Guerre
- Venue: The Old Vic, London
- Performance dates: 1 – 31 October 2026
- Age guidelines: 12+
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