Cast announced for explosive new production on classical musical plagiarism THAT BASTARD, PUCCINI!
Casting has been announced for That Bastard, Puccini!, which makes its world premiere at London’s Park Theatre from 10 July-9 August.
Written by James Inverne, this compelling new comedy-drama explores the high-stakes chaos surrounding Giacomo Puccini and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s race to claim La Bohème as their own, leading to a scandalous ‘battle of the Bohemes’, as each created their own version.
Bringing to life a hilarious and captivating tale of musical plagiarism, fierce competition and an explosive rivalry between two of opera’s legendary composers, are Alasdair Buchan (The Mousetrap, West End; The Da Vinci Code, UK Tour) as the ambitious and hot-headed Leoncavallo, and Sebastien Torkia (Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, Menier Chocolate Factory; The Red Shoes, RSC) as the charismatic and egotistical Giacomo Puccini.
Completing the cast is Lisa-Anne Wood (Wicked; The Phantom of the Opera, West End) as Leoncavallo's wife Berthe, who finds herself increasingly entangled in the chaos of this high stakes artistic clash.
Audiences will be transported back to 1893, where two of Italy’s most renowned composers, Puccini and Leoncavallo, find themselves locked in an intense rivalry that will shape the future of opera. Puccini is tantalisingly close to being hailed as Italy's newest opera king, yet the two composers are not only fighting for fame and glory but for their place in history, as they confront the true cost of ambition, and creativity, in the pursuit of greatness.
Directed by internationally acclaimed opera and theatre director Daniel Slater, That Bastard Puccini! invites audiences to delve deeper into the world of Puccini and the great composers, where art is also business, and genius its currency. By turns dramatic and hilarious, the play seeks to explore the true, searing cost of artistic ambition.
The production features set and costume design by Carly Brownbridge, lighting by Katy Morison, and sound by Yvonne Gilbert.
