Melvyn Bragg and Howard Goodall’s passionately captivating musical The Hired Man will be returning for a limited run at London’s Union Theatre in July.
Directed by Brendan Matthew whose previous directing includes the critically acclaimed world premiere of My Land’s Shore and The Kissing Dance will be reviving this romantic drama, with previews from the 19th July and running until the 12th August with a press night on the 21st July.
Based on a true story and the novel of the same name by Melvyn Bragg, The Hired Man centres around a simple country family during the turn of the century in the industrial and agricultural areas of Cumbria. When love, war and misguided romantic affairs come into play, the family must learn the values of their relationships and overcome the darkness that lays in their path. The story being that of Bragg’s own grandfather. With a beautiful score by Howard Goodall of Love Story, The Dreaming, Bend It Like Beckham fame, ‘The Hired Man’ truly is a touching story not to be missed.
The Union production will be choreographed by Charlotte Tooth with musical direction/ orchestrations by Richard Bates, production design by Justin Williams and produced by Sasha Regan.
Starring Ifan Gwilym-Jones, Rebecca Gilliland, Kara Taylor Alberts, Jack McNeill, Luke Kelly, Christopher Lyne, Megan Armstrong, Sam Peggs, Jonathan Carlton, Matthew Chase, Aaron Davey, Lori Mclare, Laurel Dougall, Nick Brittain and Rebecca Withers.
The musical has had a number of revivals in the past few years including a co-production with the Leicester Curve/ Colchester Mercury back in April 2013, a revival of the show at the Landor Theatre in 2011 and a concert version of the show starring Jenna Russell and John Owen Jones at the Cadogen Hall. The original West End production opened in 1984 and the recipient of four Olivier Award Nominations.
