New musical A Mirrored Monet will receive its London premiere at Charing Cross Theatre from 14 March – 9 May 2026.

The Show

Paris, 1916. The painter Claude Monet struggles to complete the commission that will define his legacy: The Water Lilies — a project on which his survival depends, with food and essential supplies at stake as the First World War encroaches. Plagued by creative block, he retreats into memory, revisiting his early artist days with contemporaries Renoir and Manet, and his muse, Camille Doncieux.

Inspired by letters and diaries from Monet and his peers, A Mirrored Monet immerses audiences in the cafés, studios, and salons of Belle Époque Paris, with music and projections bringing the era vividly to life. An earlier iteration of A Mirrored Monet featured at Greenside’s Emerald Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023.

The Cast

Award-winning actor Jeff Shankley (Starlight Express, Cats) will star as the iconic painter Claude Monet in 1916, with Dean John-Wilson (Your Lie in April: The Musical, Aladdin) as the artist in his youth. Completing the cast are John Addison (Pretty Woman, Titanic) as Leroy, Brooke Bazarian (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sondheim Unplugged) as Camille Doncieux, Natalie Day (Grease, To Wong Foo The Musical) as Blanche/Suzanne, Ritesh Manugula (My Fair Lady, Shirley) as Bazille, Sam Peggs (Oliver!, Les Misérables) as Renoir, Aaron Pryce-Lewis (Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables) as Manet, Steven Serlin (Here we Are, Shining in Misery) as Marquis, Nick Bligh covering Old Monet and Marquis, Samuel Haughton covering Renoir, Manet/Durand-Ruel, Leroy, Bazille and Meg Matthews covering Camille and Blanche/Suzanne.

Monet – Jeff Shankley
Young Monet – Dean John-Wilson
Leroy – John Addison
Camille – Brooke Bazarian
Blanche/Suzanne – Natalie Day
Bazille – Ritesh Manugula
Renoir & Cover Young Monet – Sam Peggs
Manet / Durand-Ruel – Aaron Pryce-Lewis
Marquis – Steven Serlin
Walking Understudy – Camille and Blanche/Suzanne – Meg Matthews
Walking Understudy – Old Monet and Marquis – Nick Bligh
Walking Understudy – Renoir, Manet/Durand-Ruel, Leroy, Bazille – Samuel Haughton

The Creatives

Written by composer, lyricist and dramatist Carmel Owen (Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln), and directed by Christian Durham (Waiting for Godot, Fly More Than You Fall), this dramatic new musical will explore the man behind the much loved impressionist masterpiece – The Water Lilies.

The production features music direction by Michael Webborn, set and costume designs by Libby Todd, lighting design by Jodie Underwood, sound design by Andy Johnson and video design by Matt Powell. The assistant director and movement director is Heather Douglas, the assistant music director is Rachel Blaquiere, and the costume supervisor is Sheree Paton. The production manager is James Anderton, the casting director is Jane Deitch with general management by Katy Lipson and Kristie Winsen for ARIA Entertainment.

Written by Carmel Owen
Directed by Christian Durham
Music Director: Michael Webborn
Set & Costume Design: Libby Todd
Lighting Design: Jodie Underwood
Sound Design: Andy Johnson
Video Design: Matt Powell
Assistant Director & Movement Director: Heather Douglas
Assistant Music Director: Rachel Blaquiere
Costume Superviser: Sheree Paton
Production Manager: James Anderton
Casting Director: Jane Deitch
General Manager: Kristie Winsen & Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment