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Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The West End ‘Life of Pi' play makes its debut in Hong Kong this month
From a globally acclaimed novel and award-winning film adaptation by Ang Lee, to two theatrical versions performed across the UK, it's no exaggeration to say that Life of Pi by Yann Martel is one of the most iconic stories of the 21st century. Theatre lovers will be glad to know that the play is soon making its Hong Kong debut at the Xiqu Centre. The original West End production from London has won five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards, so this is a great chance for Hong Kong audiences to see the magic right on home soil. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Life of Pi play is its use of exquisite puppetry in presenting the various animal characters such as the orangutans, zebras, hyenas, and Richard Parker the Bengal tiger. If you've seen The Lion King musical, you'll know first-hand how life-like puppets can be, and this production includes three very skilled puppeteers who deftly bring the animals to life. For those who have yet to experience the tale in any format, Life of Pi tells the story of Pi, a young Indian boy who loses his family in a shipwreck and finds himself having to survive while adrift at sea on a lifeboat with a range of animals, including the potentially dangerous tiger Richard Parker. Blending fantasy with reality, it deals with the profound themes of humanity and survival, religion and faith, as well as whether truth and fiction are important at all. Head to the Xiqu Centre from June 26 to 29 for a very limited six-show run of Life of Pi on stage. Tickets range from $288 to $1,188, with concessions available, but they're fast running out so get clicking now!
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Life of Pi" Drama Debuts in Hong Kong in June
From the novel and film, stepping into the West Kowloon Cultural District's Xiqu Centre, combining exquisite puppetry and magical theater, sweeping multiple international theater awards. HONG KONG, May 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --The original London West End production of *Life of Pi*, which has garnered five Laurence Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards, will be presented in Hong Kong for the first time by China Foreign Cultural Affairs Group Ltd. The performances will take place at the Grand Theatre of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) from June 26 to 29. Audiences can now purchase tickets for this Hong Kong engagement through various platforms, with prices starting at a limited $288, allowing them to experience this 'theatre miracle' that transcends the pages of the book and the screen! Details of "Life of Pi" Drama "Life of Pi" - The Original London West End DramaDate: 26 June 2025 (Thursday) to 29 June 2025 (Sunday)Afternoon Session: 2:30pm (28 & 29 June)Evening Time Scene: 7:30pm (26, 27, 28 & 29 June)Venue: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, WKCD (88 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)Tickets: $1188, $988, $888, $688, $588, $288Concessionary prices for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above (A/$832, B/$692, C/$622, D/$482) Purchase of regular-price tickets is subject to the presentation of a valid identity document upon admission. Tickets of the original London West End production of "Life of Pi" Drama are currently available for purchase through the official website of the Hong Kong West Kowloon Cultural District Theatre Centre, Cityline, Art-mate, Pop-ticket, Damai and Gewara. Official Ticketing Website: Ang Lee's Oscar-winning film of the same name has received numerous international awards. The original philosophical fable, Life of PI, has sold over 15 million copies worldwide since its release in 2001 and won the Booker Prize in 2002. The 2012 film adaptation, directed by Ang Lee, garnered four Oscars. In 2019, this legendary classic was brought to life in a theatrical production by the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, UK. This reinterpretation introduced a new dimension to the art of theatre, transitioning from paperback and cinema to the prestigious West End theatres in London. The production achieved unparalleled success, winning five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards for Best New Play, Best Choreography, and Best Lighting Design. Additionally, it received five British Drama Awards and the WhatsOnStage Awards for Best New Play, solidifying its status as the most successful play of its kind in London. It has earned recognition as the undisputed 'dark horse' of the theatre scene. A widely acclaimed masterpiece, it has received five-star reviews from major media outlets in both the UK and the US. The New York Times described it as a "It's a wonder! life of pi delivers magic. the roaring you hear at the show's end is the sound of a standing ovation.", The Times praised, "The puppetry, from Finn Caldwell and Nick Barnes, is breathtaking". There were numerous positive comments on social media, with one user declaring it "the ultimate theatre experience that makes your brain dizzy, your heart beat wildly, and your soul tremble." This is undoubtedly proof that *The Fantastic Adventures of Young Pi* is not only a masterpiece of art but also a journey that connects human emotions. Stage Magic, Puppetry, and an Unmatched Immersive Experience One of the most remarkable aspects of the play "Life of PI" is the innovative puppetry that brings various animal characters to life, including the Bengal tiger Richard Parker, hyenas, orangutans, and zebras. Under the skilled control of three puppeteers, every breath and movement of the puppets is infused with wildness and vitality. The *Guardian* newspaper in the UK praised the performance, and the audience echoed this sentiment, stating, three puppeteers made the tiger so wild and spiritual that I even forgot it was a puppet! puppeteers to become the first to win an Olivier Award, marking a significant milestone in the history of theatre. Through a multi-layered dynamic setup and high-precision projection technology, the vastness of the ocean is realistically recreated on stage. Light and shadow simulate the movement of the sea, the dinghy bobbing in the enormous waves, the movement of fish, and the galaxy in the night sky. This creates a stunning audiovisual experience that immerses the audience, making them feel as though they are struggling alongside the protagonist, Pi, in the stormy Pacific Ocean and sharing in his fantastical journey. A Stage Miracle That Transcends Both Page and Screen The story of Pi, a young Indian boy who loses his family in a shipwreck and shares a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, along with other animals, exemplifies the essence of the original narrative. In this confined space, Pi faces a race against time to survive, weaving a tale that blends fantasy with reality. Through the ingenious use of a dual narrative—rich with fantastical animal fables while confronting the harsh and brutal truths of human nature—the film immerses the audience in Pi's inner world. It poignantly portrays his struggle and growth in a desperate situation, prompting viewers to gain a deeper understanding of self-identity and the meaning of survival. Additionally, it encourages the audience to reflect on these profound themes. Art Feast Brings Light to the Cultural Landscape of the Greater Bay Area The Hong Kong leg of 'The Fantastic Drift of Young Pi' is produced by China External Culture Group Limited and operated by Beijing One World Culture Communications Co., Ltd. , a content company of China Performing Arts Theatre Line, which is a subsidiary of China Performing Arts Theatre Line. The Hong Kong leg of 'The Fantastic Drift of Young Pi', which has been touring the world since 2023, spreads all over North America, and then embarks on its journey to Asia, with Hong Kong as one of the stops, not only creating a major event for the Hong Kong art scene, but also providing an opportunity for the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau Bay Area to celebrate the cultural landscape. It has not only created a major event in Hong Kong's art scene, but also injected new vigour into the art market of the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area. Whether you are touched by the philosophical ideas of the novel, shocked by the visual impact of the film, or are encountering the story for the first time, you should come to the WKCD Centre from 26 to 29 June to face life's choices together with 'Pi' through this drama, and experience a magical journey intertwined with emotions and philosophical ideas. About Beijing One World Culture Communications Co., Ltd. Beijing One World Culture Communications Co., Ltd. is the content division of the China Performing Arts Theatre Line, operating under China Foreign Culture Group Co., Ltd. The company is primarily responsible for the introduction, production, operation, and marketing of theatrical content. It is also one of the earliest organizations in the country to engage in the commercialization of arts and cultural performances. Since 2008, the company has been fully committed to the development of China's musical theatre industry. It has signed a series of world-renowned productions, including classic musicals adapted into Chinese. The company has successfully produced and promoted Chinese versions of these musicals, touring dozens of cities across the country. From 2015 onwards, the company introduced and operated original Broadway versions of world-class musicals, such as Phantom of the Opera, the Tony Award-winning epic musical, and participated in the Chinese productions of other notable musical theatre projects. Download images: Media enquiry: Yannis Wong 5593 6199 Official Ticketing Website: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Beijing One World Culture Communications Co., Ltd.
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
From Hannah Waddingham's rage to Miley Cyrus' clapback – all the times celebs have SNAPPED on the red carpet
AFTER Denzel Washington snapped on the red carpet at Cannes during the week, The Sun takes a look at some of the most memorable celebrity clashes at glitzy events. From Hannah Waddingham's rage to Miley Cyrus' clapback, there are countless memorable moments involving famous faces on the red carpet. 15 Denzel Washington was involved in a red carpet bust up at Cannes this year Credit: Getty 15 He was seen shouting at a snapper Credit: Getty Acting legend Denzel, 70, was caught in the tense exchange during the week. The moment came during the premiere of his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, at the Cannes Film Festival. The actor was seen sternly pointing at a snapper and firmly telling him, 'Stop it!' after what appeared to be a physical interaction at the event. But what are some of the other memorable clashes on the red carpets of star-studded events? Read More about Red Carpets seeing red Shock moment Denzel Washington yells at Cannes photographer in red carpet clash Hannah Waddingham 15 Hannah Waddingham was told to show some leg at the Olivier Awards in 2024 Credit: Alamy 15 She scolded the photographer who asked her Credit: TWITTER At the Olivier Awards in 2024, Ted Lasso star Hannah, 50, scolded a snapper when they made a request. Posing up a storm before heading inside the event, Hannah was asked to "show her leg", which infuriated her. "Oh my God, you'd never say that to a man, my friend," she said to the photographer. She then said: "Don't be a dick or I'll move off. Don't say, 'show your leg'." Walking away, Hannah then turned around, pointed at the snapper and sternly warned: "Have some manners." Miley Cyrus 15 Miley was told to 'behave' by then-husband Liam Credit: YouTube/Miley Cyrus Fan 15 His stern warning came after she pretended to lick him Credit: YouTube/Miley Cyrus Fan 15 She also grinded up on him in another interview Credit: YouTube/Access Hollywood At a red carpet Avengers event in 2019, Miley Cyrus and her then-husband Liam Hemsworth were seen embroiled in a tense exchange. From Hannah Waddingham's rage to Miley Cyrus' clapback - all the times celebs have SNAPPED on the red carpet after Denzel Washington's Cannes kick-off "Could you behave for once?" asked Liam after Miley pretended to lick him in a fun and flirty way. Miley then scrunched up her face and moved around. Liam then put his hand on Miley's stomach, to which she grabbed his hand and pushed it away. Walking away, Liam left Miley standing on her own as she posed and grinned wider than ever before. Also in 2019 at a different event, Miley grinded on Liam when asked a question on the red carpet. "What's a dance number between the two of you look like?" a reporter asked the couple. Miley then began to grind on Liam but he shut her down and said: "No, no, we're not doing this. Not on the carpet." Miley and Liam got married in December 2018 before splitting the following year. They separated in August 2019 and finalized their divorce in January 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. Chappell Roan 15 At the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2024, she could be seen and heard blasting expletives while on the red carpet Credit: AFP 15 Chappell was then later accused of pushing her assistant in a shocking viral red carpet clip from April 2025 Credit: ET (Entertainment Tonight) The Pink Pony Club hitmaker has had a couple of incidents on the red carpet since shooting to super stardom. At the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2024, she could be seen and heard blasting expletives while on the red carpet. While her team fixed up her dress, someone appeared to say "Shut the f**k up." In response, the Pink Pony Club hitmaker pointed at a person and yelled, "You shut the f**k up!" It wasn't clear what the person said next, but Chappell said, "No! Not me b***h." And then, just last month in April, Chappell was accused of pushing her assistant in a shocking viral clip from the Los Angeles Fashion Awards. The singer could be seen waving at fans while flanked by two companions. She then appeared to collide with her assistant before seemingly using her arm to push her away. Chappell then walked off. Tom Cruise 15 Tom Cruise got squirted with the water gun at War of the Worlds premiere 15 He attended the premiere with Katie Holmes in 2005 Credit: EPA Tom Cruise gave a prankster a very stern telling off in 2005. 20 years ago at the London premiere of Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, a Channel 4 prankster pretended to be a journalist while on the red carpet. Posing as a reporter, the prankster squirted water at Tom and he got a little wet in the face. The actor thought he was doing an interview on the red carpet when the microphone squirted a stream of water into his face. Tom was fuming and sternly asked: "Why would you do that?" He then batted away the faux mic away and pulled the prankster forward. "What's so funny about that?" he pressed. "It's ridiculous," he went on to fume as the prankster apologised and defended himself. But Tom's rant didn't end there. "You like doing mean things to people?" he asked. As the prankster walked away, Tom then shouted out: "Hey, hey, no, no, don't run away. "Don't run away, it's incredibly rude. I'm here giving you an interview and answering your questions and you do something really nasty." He then added: "You're a jerk. You're a jerk. You know what, you're a jerk." Kelly Rowland 15 At Cannes in 2024, Kelly Rowland appeared to shout out a security guard on the red carpet Credit: Splash 15 She was seen scolding the lady at the event Credit: Splash At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Kelly Rowland appeared to shout out a security guard on the red carpet. The Destiny's Child star seemingly had a heated exchange with a security guard after she was ushered up the stairs. "The woman knows what happened. I know what happened," she said to the Daily Mail after the incident went viral. "And, I have a boundary. And I stand by those boundaries and that is it. "There were other women who attended that carpet, who did not quite look like me, and they didn't get scolded or pushed off or told to get off," she explained. Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly 15 Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly were involved in a bust up at the MTV VMAs in 2021 Credit: Rex 15 Conor later spoke about the incident Credit: EPA Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly were involved in a bust up at the MTV VMAs in 2021. Reports at the time claimed Conor attempted to greet and take a picture with MGK. But MGK was not keen to pose for a snap and reacted with a shove, which then spilled some of Conor's drink in the process. Conor later spoke to Entertainment Tonight where he said "absolutely nothing" happened and he doesn't fight "little vanilla boy rappers".
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
From Hannah Waddingham's rage to Miley Cyrus' clapback – all the times celebs have SNAPPED on the red carpet
AFTER Denzel Washington snapped on the red carpet at Cannes during the week, The Sun takes a look at some of the most memorable celebrity clashes at glitzy events. From Hannah Waddingham's rage to Miley Cyrus' clapback, there are countless memorable moments involving famous faces on the red carpet. 15 Denzel Washington was involved in a red carpet bust up at Cannes this year Credit: Getty 15 He was seen shouting at a snapper Credit: Getty Acting legend The moment came during the premiere of his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, at the Cannes Film Festival. The actor was seen sternly pointing at a snapper and firmly telling him, 'Stop it!' after what appeared to be a physical interaction at the event. But what are some of the other memorable clashes on the red carpets of star-studded events? Read More about Red Carpets Hannah Waddingham 15 Hannah Waddingham was told to show some leg at the Olivier Awards in 2024 Credit: Alamy 15 She scolded the photographer who asked her Credit: TWITTER At the Olivier Awards in 2024, Posing up a storm before heading inside the event, Hannah was asked to "show her leg", which infuriated her. "Oh my God, you'd never say that to a man, my friend," she said to the photographer. She then said: "Don't be a dick or I'll move off. Don't say, 'show your leg'." Most read in Showbiz Walking away, Hannah then turned around, pointed at the snapper and sternly warned: "Have some manners." Miley Cyrus 15 Miley was told to 'behave' by then-husband Liam Credit: YouTube/Miley Cyrus Fan 15 His stern warning came after she pretended to lick him Credit: YouTube/Miley Cyrus Fan 15 She also grinded up on him in another interview Credit: YouTube/Access Hollywood At a red carpet Avengers event in 2019, Miley Cyrus and her then-husband From Hannah Waddingham's rage to Miley Cyrus' clapback - all the times celebs have SNAPPED on the red carpet after Denzel Washington's Cannes kick-off "Could you behave for once?" asked Liam after Miley pretended to lick him in a fun and flirty way. Miley then scrunched up her face and moved around. Liam then put his hand on Miley's stomach, to which she grabbed his hand and pushed it away. Walking away, Liam left Miley standing on her own as she posed and grinned wider than ever before. Also in 2019 at a different event, Miley grinded on Liam when asked a question on the red carpet. "What's a dance number between the two of you look like?" a reporter asked the couple. Miley then began to grind on Liam but he shut her down and said: "No, no, we're not doing this. Not on the carpet." Miley and Liam got married in December 2018 before splitting the following year. They separated in August 2019 and finalized their divorce in January 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. Chappell Roan 15 At the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2024, she could be seen and heard blasting expletives while on the red carpet Credit: AFP 15 Chappell was then later accused of pushing her assistant in a shocking viral red carpet clip from April 2025 Credit: ET (Entertainment Tonight) The Pink Pony Club hitmaker has had a couple of incidents on the red carpet since shooting to super stardom. At the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2024, she could be seen and heard blasting expletives while on the red carpet. While her team fixed up her dress, someone appeared to say "Shut the f**k up." In response, the Pink Pony Club It wasn't clear what the person said next , but Chappell said, "No! Not me b***h." And then, just last month in April, Chappell was accused of pushing her assistant in a shocking viral clip from the Los Angeles Fashion Awards. The singer could be seen waving at fans while flanked by two companions. She then appeared to collide with her assistant before seemingly using her arm to push her away. Chappell then walked off. Tom Cruise 15 Tom Cruise got squirted with the water gun at War of the Worlds premiere 15 He attended the premiere with Katie Holmes in 2005 Credit: EPA Tom Cruise gave a prankster a very stern telling off in 2005. 20 years ago at the London premiere of Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, a Channel 4 prankster pretended to be a journalist while on the red carpet. Posing as a reporter, the prankster squirted water at Tom and he got a little wet in the face. The actor thought he was doing an interview on the red carpet when the microphone squirted a stream of water into his face. Tom was fuming and sternly asked: "Why would you do that?" He then batted away the faux mic away and pulled the prankster forward. "What's so funny about that?" he pressed. "It's ridiculous," he went on to fume as the prankster apologised and defended himself. But Tom's rant didn't end there. "You like doing mean things to people?" he asked. As the prankster walked away, Tom then shouted out: "Hey, hey, no, no, don't run away. "Don't run away, it's incredibly rude. I'm here giving you an interview and answering your questions and you do something really nasty." He then added: "You're a jerk. You're a jerk. You know what, you're a jerk." Kelly Rowland 15 At Cannes in 2024, Kelly Rowland appeared to shout out a security guard on the red carpet Credit: Splash 15 She was seen scolding the lady at the event Credit: Splash At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Kelly Rowland appeared to shout out a security guard on the red carpet. The Destiny 's Child star seemingly had a heated exchange with a security guard after she was ushered up the stairs. "The woman knows what happened. I know what happened," she said to the "And, I have a boundary. And I stand by those boundaries and that is it. "There were other women who attended that carpet, who did not quite look like me, and they didn't get scolded or pushed off or told to get off," she explained. Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly 15 Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly were involved in a bust up at the MTV VMAs in 2021 Credit: Rex 15 Conor later spoke about the incident Credit: EPA Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly were involved in a bust up at the MTV VMAs in 2021. Reports at the time claimed Conor attempted to greet and take a picture with MGK. But MGK was not keen to pose for a snap and reacted with a shove, which then spilled some of Conor's drink in the process. Conor later spoke to Entertainment Tonight where he said "absolutely nothing" happened and he doesn't fight "little vanilla boy rappers".
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Like making whisky': how The Curious Case of Benjamin Button aged into a timeless musical
Jethro Compton (book and lyrics, director and stage designer): The Olivier awards were a huge boost for us. I wasn't aware of the impact an Olivier win could have. We were already in conversations with different organisations around the world about getting the show out internationally – those have stepped up quite dramatically. Philippa Hogg (actor, musician and creative associate): The ceremony was so much fun. We came on at the Royal Albert Hall to this roar from thousands of people. Clare Foster (plays Elowen Keene): Our fans are incredible. One gave me this beautiful letter with a wooden box, which had a pickled crab design. It could belong on our set. I opened it and it was the Diary of Elowen. Darren Clark (music and lyrics, co-music supervisor, orchestrator and arranger): There are generous souls working on this show – we talk about people who are 'Button'. One of those qualities is an open heart; another is a curiosity about life. John Dagleish (plays Benjamin Button): Any story that is very human works well through the lens of an absurd conceit, like a man ageing backwards. The message about making the most of the time you have is much more poignant with a life led the opposite way around because there is a finite number of years and a specific end date. Philippa Hogg: Everyone on that stage feels connected to the themes, particularly being an outsider. It feels like a band of misfits telling the story of a misfit. Playing instruments and singing together is an ancient art form. You have to listen so hard when you play music and sing together and that ultimately connects people on a deeper level than just playing a scene. And this is very much a non-hierarchical piece – that's quite rare. Jethro Compton: There's nothing like it in the West End. An actor-musician storytelling show is very different to what people are used to experiencing here. It would not have been developed this way if it had originated in the commercial sector instead of the fringe. Musicals are so expensive to develop that producers aren't taking risks. This show has a title that people may have heard of from the film and short story but it's created by a group of unknown people, pretty much. That's part of its charm. Clare Foster: Telling an entire lifespan on stage makes people reflect on their own lives. They leave wanting to call their mum or to hold their partner's hand a bit tighter because it deals with the big stuff. When my friends come and watch, they don't – spoiler alert! – cope with me dying very well. John Dagleish: But Jethro has this phrase that he uses: 'shitting on the romance'. Whenever anything becomes melodramatic or a bit too sepia, he pumps the brakes and throws in a little gag. It allows the audience a bit of respite from the heaviness. Clare Foster: When I joined the company, Jethro talked so much about it as an ensemble show. That word can get thrown around a lot. But it really is an ensemble in its core. A cast of actor-musicians changes the dynamic of a company because there's an inherent reliance on each other. It never feels like a particular person is singing a song with a band; it feels like a group of storytellers collaborating. Darren Clark: There's something in the show for everyone to reflect on. I wanted the music to feel like it was sort of rushing over you like a wave. There would be moments where you felt like you were inside a storm and others when the water was lapping at your toes. Anna Kelsey (costume designer and associate stage designer): We wanted the set to feel like it was all falling into the ocean. The stage at the Ambassadors theatre is already raked. We added more of a rake, which does look great, but there was a lot of adjusting to it. Philippa Hogg: We dropped a tankard and it rolled into someone's lap in the front row! It takes some getting used to for the body, especially when you're dancing, as your centre of gravity is a bit wonky. But it kind of gives that rickety pier feel. Anna Kelsey: On some shows the pieces don't all seem to come together. But with this one, they really did. We knew we wanted Benjamin to wear a suit and for it to feel like he was filling it out as as he gets younger. So at the beginning of the show, John is very hunched over and his jacket has been cut to be oversized. At one point, he changes it for one made of the same fabric but with a cut that fits him better. Then he changes his hair in the interval, too. It all helps the process without that transformation becoming the focus of the show. John Dagleish: With Benjamin, we didn't want to do a send-up caricature of an old man, a Julie Walters 'two soups' kind of thing! We wanted to find something real that wasn't based on makeup or prosthetics – something that would be believable without being too showy. So we discussed this idea of weight in his movement and a voice like I've been shouting all night, a shallowness of breath. Anna Kelsey: We did talk about him having a moustache at the top of the show. We cut it because no character ageing normally through the show is aided by anything like that. Also finding a place where John could actually take it off was challenging! John Dagleish: I'd forgotten about the moustache! It would have felt more like you're doing a 'bit', rather than selling this as authentically as we could sell it. Anna Kelsey: There was this idea that the swirling ensemble are called strangers. We talked about them being sort of washed up out of the ocean. The ensemble colours were timeless tones of the earth, sea and coast. But for the main characters I referenced items like life buoys, fishing floats, manmade colours of the coastline – so Benjamin's got a bit of yellow, Elowen has orange. Philippa Hogg: The mystical nature of Benjamin Button, and the folkloric way that we tell the story, has so much truth in it. Elowen sings the line 'for a person can be old and yet be young'. We all have that childlike nature in us but then young children can have these moments of profound wisdom. You think: where the hell did that come from? If anything, the show has made me think the traditional concept of ageing is a load of rubbish. John Dagleish: Benjamin is a very wise but naive character when he's born. Jethro described it like, he's already had all of the experiences but he just doesn't remember them yet. So you're playing this kind of childish naivety but with some sense of maturity and wisdom behind it as well. And then, as the younger man, I get to play it with a wealth of experience as well as an impetuous midlife crisis kind of vibe. Jethro Compton: If you try to make the fact that he is born old in any way believable or realistic, it doesn't work. I think the 2008 film version went wrong in that they made him baby-sized, so the whole thing is a bit weird. The more absurd we made it, the more we leaned into making it a fairytale, the quicker the audience could accept it and move on. Benjamin is born old and falls in love with a younger woman. But I was very conscious of not wanting it to be creepy or sinister. Clare Foster: There's something that's a little bit ick about the concept but Jethro and Darren have done such a great job. I don't think you ever really feel the ick! Jethro Compton: Largely that comes down to the ages of the actors that we cast but also that Elowen is the driving force of the relationship. Benjamin is not pursuing her – she very much pursues him. She doesn't care what age he may or may not be, she's only interested in who he is as a person. Clare Foster: The producer Richard Darbourne, who I did Guys and Dolls with 10 years ago, messaged me and said: you should come in for this. His text said: 'High stakes, big heart, you eat that shit for breakfast!' It was one of those lovely rare auditions where, in the room, it just felt like the right fit. Philippa Hogg: Before we go on stage we do a physical and vocal warmup then come together in a big circle, arms around each other. Anyone from the cast or crew then has the opportunity to dedicate that performance to someone or something they have experienced that makes them think of the show. So we have a focus for the next couple of hours. John Dagleish: Jethro sent me some recordings of the earlier production and I fell in love with the music immediately. I remember the first day of rehearsal when I joined the company. What you would normally do is sit around a table and have a read-through. But we basically had a play-through with all of these amazing actor-musicians. Within the first two songs, everyone was in tears. Darren Clark: I would say there's probably between 10 and 15 songs that were cut over the years. We'd write a version of something, then take a little bit of that and write another one and so on. It's like making whisky, it's about distilling the idea. My life changed so much during the period of writing it. I became a father, I got married. A lot of the life that I have now is encapsulated within those years of making the show. I put the essence of my experience as a father into some of the lyrics. Jethro Compton: We partnered with new producers for the West End. There were definite challenges in scaling up the show. We redeveloped it, with a new cast except for two of the company from when we did it at Southwark Playhouse. Anna Kelsey: One of the challenges we had back then was how hot the actors got. We had a lot more layers of costume. Our coastal reference images included thick fishing jumpers which I love the look of but it's so impractical as the actors were just on the move all the time. Philippa Hogg: Before moving to Southwark Playhouse Elephant, we put it on at Southwark's Little stage with a cast of five in 2019. I remember thinking: how the hell are we going to do this tastefully? For Benjamin's entrance, there was a big creaky puppet made of driftwood that kind of flew apart into different pieces and then James Marlowe played Benjamin until the end when we had a child puppet made of buckets and bits of beach plastic. Benjamin and Little Jack didn't go to sea in the earlier version; they went to the mines. Anna Kelsey: We got loads of costumes from car boot fairs and charity shops. There was no time for anyone to leave the stage for a costume change, with all of the music to consider. Darren Clark: Guitar is my home instrument. I knew that there would be lots of guitars with Celtic folk tunings. And fiddles, mandolin and the cello which feels like a human voice. There's nothing quite like a solo cello playing something beautiful and mournful. And then I'd always had this vision of two sets of drums. I wanted to be able to capture vast and epic, as well as intimate and beautiful. That's the way life operates: we have big moments and tiny moments. Jethro Compton: We did a week of previews in Salisbury before we went to London. That original production was self-financed and self-produced – I built the set, drove the van, did too many jobs myself. Philippa Hogg: For the first performances, we rehearsed in Cornwall. We had a couple of cottages in Bude. It really informed the feel of the show because every night we were on the beach. We had two actors playing Elowen. So I played her in part one, which takes you to the age of about 35, and then Rosalind Ford played her in part two. Jethro Compton: We rented out a space above a bowling alley in Bude for a week. We put the whole set together, rehearsed it for a week, then did a first sharing. An invited dress rehearsal basically. A number of local people were there, including my father who played with a ukulele group beforehand then stayed to watch. The cast size was hugely different, but its heart was the same. Darren Clark: It's a deeply flawed short story but I saw the potential in it. Jethro added the tension of Benjamin trying to hide a secret. Jethro Compton: Fitzgerald's story is ultimately a fairytale. That folklorish quality fit really well with the world of a Cornish folk musical. I didn't particularly enjoy reading the story – it's very dated, cold. But I liked the fact that I didn't like the story. In my experience, adapting something that you think is a bit flawed allows you more freedom because you're not too respectful to the material. Sometimes you need to be unafraid to break it and make something new. Darren Clark: When it was a show for five performers, often only two of those people were playing instruments in any number. That first version had spirit and soul, but it didn't have the depth of the story we wanted to tell. Philippa Hogg: I'd just worked with Darren on another show and in 2018 he asked me to record a demo for Benjamin Button. It was The Moon and the Sea. I was like, wow, something special is going on here. Darren Clark: I had been rather badly burned by a previous project that made me want to test my collaborators before getting involved. So when Jethro sent me a lyric I restructured it entirely, set it to music and sent it back. I thought, if this guy can take this, then he's the kind of guy I want to work with, because it'll be all about the story. He came back almost immediately, added his own suggestions and the song grew even before we had officially signed a contract. Jethro Compton: After making a lot of work set in America, I wanted to do something closer to home. I thought Cornwall would be a good setting but had never made a musical before … I was terrified about how to even begin! The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is at the Ambassadors theatre, London, and the cast recording is available to stream from 16 May
