02 November 2016
Newsdesk
Ahead of tomorrow’s opening night, first images are released today of Samantha Barks and Jonathan Bailey in Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown’s acclaimed musical The Last Five Years. Due to popular demand, the production at St. James Theatre will also extend its run by a week, and will now play until Saturday 3 December.
The Last Five Years is an emotionally powerful and intimate musical telling the story of Jamie and Cathy, two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. As aspiring author Jamie gets the book deal of his dreams, actress Cathy struggles to get work and make sense of the way her career has turned out. Can a couple once united by their dreams stay connected as their paths begin to divide? Known for its unique structure, The Last Five Years sees their stories told in opposite directions; Jamie moving forwards and Cathy backwards through their relationship, meeting only briefly for a moment in time as their stories cross.
Jason Robert Brown is a three-time Tony Award-winning composer-lyricist, best known for his dazzling scores to several of the most renowned musicals of his generation. His major musicals include Honeymoon In Vegas, The Bridges of Madison County and 13, all of which played on Broadway. Several of Jason’s musicals have previously been seen in London; his song cycle Songs for a New World played at St. James Theatre last year; 13 received its West End premiere in 2012 at the Apollo Theatre in a production directed by the composer; Parade played at the Donmar Warehouse in 2007 in a major revival directed by Rob Ashford; and The Last Five Years received its London Premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2006.
Samantha Barks plays Cathy. Samantha is best known for playing Eponine in Les Miserables, a role she played in the West End, the 25th Anniversary Concerts at the O2, and in the 2012 film adaptation alongside Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Eddie Redmayne. Samantha came to prominence as a finalist on BBC’s I’d Do Anything, and later played Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s touring production of Oliver!. Recent theatre credits include the title role in the world premiere of Amelie – A New Musical (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), Mallory/Avril in City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse), Velma Kelly in Chicago (Hollywood Bowl) and Sally Bowles in Cabaret (UK Tour). Samantha also recently released her debut eponymous album “Samantha Barks”.
Jonathan Bailey plays Jamie. Jonathan is best known for television roles including reporter Olly Stevens in ITV’s Broadchurch and Leonardo Da Vinci in BBC’s Leonardo, with other recent credits including W1A (BBC), Doctor Who (BBC), Crashing (Channel 4), Campus (Channel 4) and the upcoming Hooten and the Lady (Sky). Jonathan is also currently shooting the next series of Michaela Cole's Chewing Gum (E4). Theatre credits include American Psycho (Almeida Theatre), Othello (National Theatre) and South Downs (Harold Pinter Theatre), with film credits including 5 Children and It, Testament of Youth and the upcoming Crowhurst biopic The Mercy with Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz, which is to be released next year.
The Last Five Years premiered Off-Broadway in 2002, where it won the Drama Desk Award for Music and Lyrics, and has since been seen all over the world. A film adaptation was also released in 2014 starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. This major revival production, directed by Jason Robert Brown, was first seen in a record-breaking Off-Broadway run at New York’s Second Stage Theatre in 2013.
The Last Five Years is written and directed by Jason Robert Brown, with musical direction by Torquil Munro. Casting is by Pippa Ailion. It is produced by Hilary and Stuart Williams in association with Paul Taylor-Mills.
Originally Produced for the New York stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell
Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre, Chicago, USA
Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited
Twitter: @TL5Y_London
UNTIL SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2016
ST. JAMES THEATRE
12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA
Press Night: Wednesday 2 November, 7.00pm
Performances: Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
Tickets: £10.00 - £59.50
Box Office: www.stjamestheatre.co.uk | 0844 264 2140
ON SALE NOW
St. James Theatre is a unique, award winning arts complex in central London which opened in September 2012. With a 312 seat main house presenting plays, musicals and revues, and a 120 capacity Studio in cabaret style offering over 250 shows a year, the St. James has quickly established itself as the vibrant cultural hub of the rapidly developing Victoria area and a major player on the wider cultural scene.
In February 2017, St. James Theatre will become The Other Palace, and will be a home and breeding ground for musicals at various stages of development. The Other Palace will focus on four key areas: programming, creative use of spaces, musical theatre development and audience engagement.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has united with Joe and Margaux Sharratt, the husband and wife team who shot to fame in the restaurant world in 2015 with their Brixton hotspot, Naughty Piglets, which was awarded four star reviews from the Evening Standard and Time Out. The Other Palace will house The Other Naughty Piglet, a fun modern restaurant serving fresh, seasonal and creative small plates, combined with an extensive choice of natural wines.
The main theatre will be the heart of The Other Palace, where the programme will consist of full productions, work in progress productions and festivals of new work. By day the studio will be available for composers, librettists, lyricists, directors and choreographers to discover and create new material. By night the space will build on the current St. James Studio model to offer a diverse programme including cabaret, music, musical theatre and crossover acts. A series of unique platforming opportunities for musical theatre in development will also be introduced in the studio; further details will be announced in due course. The theatre will feature an open mic bar in the hope that it becomes a genuine hub for anyone interested in the musical.
