Cast announced for new adaptation of FRANZ AND MARIE at Charing Cross Theatre
Featuring some of London’s hottest musical theatre talent, Brenock O’Connor and Jade Oswald lead a 14-strong actor-muso company in haunting new musical Franz and Marie at Charing Cross Theatre from 28 September - 14 November.
Inspired by Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck, this now classic fable has a feminist twist, placing Marie alongside Franz Woyzeck at the heart of the narrative.
Set in the twisted and war-torn world of late 19th Century Europe, a platoon of young soldiers have been stationed in an isolated outpost for months, awaiting further orders. Franz Woyzeck, a man haunted by nightmares since his return from the front, has agreed to medical experimentations by the army doctor in order to supplement his meagre income to support.his girlfriend Marie, and their baby, the pressures take their toll with disastrous consequences.
The full cast includes Brenock O’Connor (Game of Thrones, HBO) as Woyzeck, Jade Oswald (Little Women, Salisbury Playhouse/UK tour) as Marie, Steve Simmonds (Assassins, Watermill Theatre/Nottingham Playhouse) as Sergeant Ursid, Paula James (Equus, Menier Chocolate Factory/Theatre Royal Bath) as Zella, Richard Emerson Gould (Alternations, National Theatre) as Doctor Simian, Matthew Heywood (Little Shop of Horrors, UK tour) as Drum Major Varg, Max Alexander-Taylor (Jesus Christ Superstar, Watermill Theatre) as André Schmitt, Mark Meadows (The Tempest, RSC) as Captain Peccary, Eve Polycarpou (From Here to Eternity, Charing Cross Theatre) as Vashti; Elaine Hua Jones (Places I Never Think About, The Cockpit) as Kat, Antony Lam (Miraculous, King’s Head Theatre), Anna-Marie Piazza (War Horse, National Theatre/UK tour), Emily Panes (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, West End), and Tom Aubrey (professional stage debut) completing the ensemble.
This raw, soul-rattling indie folk score was originally commissioned by award-winning Korean musical theatre company Acom and created by Chris Broderick and Rob Shepherd, key members of cult Medway band The Singing Loins. Their adaptation of Woyzeck was staged at the LG Arts Center in Seoul in 2014 and has now been reimagined as Franz & Marie for its 2026 production at Charing Cross Theatre.
With book and lyrics by Chris Broderick and music by Rob Shepherd and Chris Broderick, Franz & Marie is newly adapted by Teresa Howard, with additional music, arrangements and orchestrations by Steven Edis.
Franz & Marie is directed by Michael Oakley, with choreography by Ben Wright.
