The full cast and creative team have been announced for Our Man in Havana, the world premiere musical adaptation of Graham Greene’s iconic novel, playing at Newbury’s The Watermill from 7 April–21 May.

A roller coaster comedy full of colourful characters and uplifting Cuban inspired songs, this new musical cleverly satirises the fine line between truth and lies. The production was originally programmed as part of The Watermill’s Spring 2020 season but had to be postponed by the pandemic, and now Artistic Director Paul Hart, Executive Director Claire Murray and the whole team are thrilled to welcome the show to The Watermill for a new run of the show this spring.

It’s 1958 and Havana is on the brink of revolution. All day and night, the streets are filled with dancing and the shadows are filled with criminals. In the midst of the warm tropical air, an English vacuum cleaner salesman lives a quiet life running a modest business, raising his teenage daughter Milly and collecting miniature whisky bottles. 

Just as Milly’s love of shopping reaches new heights, James Wormold receives an offer from the British Secret Intelligence Service that is too good to refuse. What Wormold lacks in sleuthing experience, he makes up for with imagination. Nothing stays quiet for long in Havana and his life is soon turned upside down when the fictional events of his intelligence reports start to come true!

Nigel Lister (Footloose, UK tour) will play ‘James Wormold’, Daniella Agredo Piper (The Secret Garden, Barn Theatre) will play ‘Milly Wormold’, Paula James (Gin Craze!, Royal & Derngate) will play ‘Beatrice / Maria’, Alvaro Flores (ClubMex, Hope Mill Theatre) will play ‘Segura/Hawthorne/Marco’, Adam Keast (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Bolton Octagon) will play ‘Hasselbacher/Chief’ and Antonio Sanchez (Mamma Mia!, Sala Joaquin Turina) will be the Onstage Musical Director.

Directed by Watermill Associate Director Abigail Pickard Price, the production is designed by Kat Heath, with orchestrations by Eliane Correa and Ben Morales Frost , music by Ben Morales Frost, a book and lyrics by Richard Hough, sound by Adam Fisher, lighting by Robbie Butler and choreography by Andrea Pelaez.

Ben Morales Frost said, “It was an irresistible challenge: a story half set in 1950s Havana, half in London; a father-daughter relationship wrapped up in a tale of intrigue and international espionage; a cast of 6 who have to act, sing, dance, play instruments, and still operate a vacuum cleaner convincingly…  

“Working with Eliane to create authentic Cuban orchestrations has been a real treat, and has helped us create a gloriously jarring contrast to the buttoned-up atmosphere of England in the mid-20th Century. We hope you enjoy the result.”

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.