Kneehigh's Umbrellas of Cherbourg at Gielgud 5 March

It is now confirmed that Kneehigh's production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, by Jacques Demy & Michel Legrand, will open at the West End's Gielgud Theatre 22 March 2011, following previews from 5 March - booking to 1 Oct 2011. (following a run at Curve, Leicester from 11 - 26 February 2011.)

It is adapted and directed by Emma Rice. Lyrics are translated by Sheldon Harnick. Designed by Lez Brotherston, with lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, sound by Simon Baker and musical supervision by Nigel Lilley.

Cast includes Joanna Riding (Madame Emery), Meow Meow (Lola), Carly Bawden (Genevieve), Gareth Charlton (Sailor), Andrew Durand (Guy), Cynthia Erivo (Madelaine), Dominic Marsh (Cassard), Aki Omoshaybi (Sailor), Laura Brydon, Matt Wilman.

Kneehigh returns to the West End following their 2008 production of Brief Encounter which ran at the Haymarket Cinema and has subsequently toured nationally and internationally.

It is produced by Daniel Sparrow and Mike Walsh Productions, Curve Leicester and City Lights International in association with Be Yu Productions.

Twenty year old French auto mechanic Guy Fouchier has fallen in love with 17-year-old Genevieve Emery, an employee in her widowed mother's chic umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Genevieve vow to remain lovers. After discovering she is carrying Guy's child she must choose between waiting for his return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant.