Romantics Anonymous musical to stream online from the Bristol Old Vic

Hit musical Romantics Anonymous is to stream from the Bristol Old Vic.

Romantics Anonymous is based on the French film of the same name (Les Émotifs Anonymes) and follows the love story of chocolate maker Angelique and Jean-René, the owner of a chocolate manufacturer called the Chocolate Mill.

The stage adaption features music from Michael Kooman, lyrics by Christopher Dimond and a book by Emma Rice, who also directs.

The production is to be presented live at Bristol Old Vic between September 22 and 26 with tickets to watch online from £15.

Streaming as a ‘digital tour’, theatres from across the world will sell tickets for different nights of the week.

You can get tickets online here. There will also be captioned and audio-described performances.

It will be a fully staged production with the cast isolating together to perform without social distancing restrictions.

Marc Antolin and Carly Bawden will lead the cast in the roles of Jean-René and Angélique respectively.

They’ll be joined by Me’sha Bryan as Suzanne/Mimi, Harry Hepple as Ludo/Remi, Laura Jane Matthewson as Young Woman, Sandra Marvin as Magda/Brigitte/Dr Maxim, Philip Cox as Father/Pierre/Receptionist, Gareth Snook as Mercier/Mumbler/Marini and Omari Douglas as Salesman/Fred.

Book writer and director Emma Rice said: “I have devoted my life to the live experience and the collective imagination – things that have proved impossible over the last few months. Whilst nothing will be able to replace the thrill of a night out at the theatre, this live broadcast is going to be as close to that delicious experience as we can possibly make it!

“Live, fresh, fun and intimate, this will remind us of what it is to share stories, hear music and, if true love has its way, even kiss. Imagine that! We are taking the utmost care to protect all of our valued team and, for one week only, we can all experience a live performance again, get lost in a wonderful love story and remember what it was to be socially intimate!”

Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic, Tom Morris added: “Theatre has to reinvent itself in order to survive. That’s always true, of course, and one of the great pioneers of theatrical reinvention over the last 20 years has been Emma Rice.

“And now she’s at it again. A purely live fully streamed full-scale musical for a live audience sitting at home all over the world. It’s so bold it turns your mind into a honeycomb. We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to be hosting the experiment in our beautiful theatre, and there is no company more suited to rekindle the fire of live performance that inspires us all than Wise Children.”

The creative team is made up of Les Brotherston (design), Nigel Lilley (musical supervision), Etta Murfitt (choreography), Simon Hale (orchestrations), Malcolm Rippeth (lighting) and Simon Baker (sound).