Gypsy’s Gemma Sutton has joined the cast of The Go-Between as one half of the moving coming of age musical’s illicit lovers alongside former Once cast member Stuart Ward.
The pair will join two-time Olivier Award winner Michael Crawford in Richard Taylor and David Wood’s musical adaptation of the classic novel when it makes its West End premiere at the Apollo Theatre next month.
Recounting the summer of 1900, scorching heat and long days spent in Norfolk, Crawford’s Leo longingly recalls holidays spent in a luxurious country home with friends. But before long, he finds himself embroiled in a forbidden secret love affair, acting as the go-between in a furtive relationship between beautiful upper-class Marian and lowly tenant-farmer Ted.
Caught up in a world of deceit, manipulation and trickery, Leo risks everything as events escalate around him, in turn promising devastating effects that will shape his life forever.
Sutton will return to the West End stage to play Marian following her recent turn in the multi Olivier Award-winning hit Gypsy, her first major London role.
Her forthcoming co-star Ward reprises the role of Ted following the musical’s early life at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2011. The actor was last seen on the London stage as part of the cast of Once, which he followed with a triumphant, award-winning starring role in the US touring production of the Irish musical.
The pair are joined by fellow newly announced cast member Issy Van Randwyck, famed for her role in the world famous cabaret group Fascinating Aida. The stage and screen performer follows numerous stage appearances including Hampstead Theatre’s Raving and No Naughty Bits to play Mrs Maudsley, one of the story’s disapproving parents.
The full cast also includes Sunset Boulevard’s Julian Forsyth, Silas Wyatt-Barke, John Addison, Stephen Carlile and Jenni Bowden.
Completing the company are young performers Luka Green, William Thompson and Johnny Evans Hutchison, who will alternate the role of Crawford’s younger self, alongside Archie Stevens, Matty Norgren, Samuel Menhinick as the young Marcus.
The Go-Between is currently booking at the Apollo Theatre from 27 May to 15 October. You can book tickets through here.