The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg - Gielgud Theatre

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Some highly regarded and talented names join forces to bring the latest stage musical to the Gielgud Theatre in March. Joanna Riding will take on the role occupied by Anne Vernon onscreen in the stage version of “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” at the London theatre in the spring. But that’s not all, in addition to the experienced and celebrated stage actress, the Kneehigh Theatre’s Emma Rice is also stepping up to the mantel as director, having made a huge impression with the company’s “Brief Encounter” at the Haymarket Theatre in 2008.

“The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” was originally a French musical film that inspired a stage version more than a decade after its premiere. The story is focused on young lovers Genevieve Emery and Guy Fouchier, the former a seventeen year-old-girl and the latter a twenty-year-old man that is about to head out on a combat tour of Algeria. His duties will force them apart but they make an important vow to one another – they will remain lovers throughout the combat and remain together once again upon his return. But a problem arises when Guy is away; Genevieve falls pregnant and a wealthy man offers her his hand in marriage, prompting her to choose between her vow with Guy or the promise of a comfortable life for her child in the hands of another man.

The movie musical first appeared onscreen in 1964 under the direction of Jacques Demy, who also put together “Lola” and “The Young Girls of Rochefort” as a loose trilogy. The stage version would follow over a decade later in 1979 on the other side of the Atlantic and it would lay the foundations of the current version gearing up for its run at the Gielgud Theatre. As such it appears in year that also welcomes new shows like “Million Dollar Musical” and “The Children’s Hour”

Star Joanna Riding has appeared in a wealth of West End musicals and her efforts have paid off with two Laurence Olivier Awards during her time. The two awards came from “Carousel” at The National Theatre in 1993 and “My Fair Lady” at the National in 2003. Her other credits include “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at the Chichester Festival Theatre, “Guys and Dolls” at the National Theatre and “The Witches of Eastwick” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg appears at the Gielgud Theatre from Tuesday 22nd March 2011 (previews from Saturday 5th March 2011) to Saturday 1st October 2011.