As previously announced the stage adaptation of multi–award winning film Once arrives in the UK next year. Booking is now open for its London appearance and a glance at its pedigree will set expectations high for this new musical.
The New York Times described Once as "a low-key and sombre tale of lost love" when reporting on the show's exceptional financial success: it recovered its $5.5 million Broadway capitalisation costs in less than six months—an achievement aided no doubt by "prominent television exposure on America’s Got Talent" following its eight Tony Award wins. Those eight awards are in addition to being named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critic Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards.
For the stage show, award-winning, London-based, Irish writer Enda Walsh wrote the book and, like the film (which was written and directed by John Carney winner of Best Newcomer and Best Foreign Film), the music and lyrics are by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who also played the principal roles on screen. They share the credit for awards for Best Original Song, Best Music and Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and two Grammy Award nominations.
Once is a cross–culture love story that emerges as an Irish busker and a young Czech mother find a shared love of music. It is set in Dublin where Once will have a short run at the Gaiety Theatre from 22 February 2013. Previews start at London's Phoenix Theatre on 16 March with booking currently running to 30 November 2013.
Directed by John Tiffany, Once has set and costume designs by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Clive Goodwin, musical supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe and movement by Steven Hoggett. Casting has not yet been announced.