Twenty five years after its Tony-laden Broadway debut, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Passion is coming to Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, a relatively young venue that has ascended to astonishing critical acclaim as one of the most exciting and successful independent theatre venues in the UK. 

The forthcoming revival of this one-act musical by Sondheim and Lapine, the composer-librettist dream team behind Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along, promises a “dynamic new staging” by director Michael Strassen.

Members of the press and lucky patrons of the Theatre Café this afternoon were introduced to the cast of this production, which includes Ray Shell, Dean John-Wilson, Kelly Price, and musical theatre legend Ruthie Henshall, who treated the audience to a short musical introduction to the multi-award-winning show.

Passion follows the story of a young soldier, Giorgio (Dean John-Wilson), who is obsessively pursued by the relation of his superior officer, Fosca (Ruthie Henshall) – a woman prone to severe melancholy and mania.

Strassen describes Passion as “Sondheim’s ode to love”, reiterating that theatre audiences - now more than ever, after the difficulties of recent years – need such a stirring tale of love.

This production – co-produced by Thomas Hopkins, Guy Chapman, Paul Schofield and Ruthie Henshall - reunites Strassen with Ray Shell and Henshall, who worked together on the original production of Miss Saigon, and also introduces new and emerging talent including the latest winner of the X Factor Dalton Harris and recent Arts Ed graduate Charlie Waddell.

Completing the cast are Tim Walton (original London cast of Matilda, Mamma Mia!, Love Never Dies and Wicked), Steve Watts (spot him in an upcoming KFC commercial as ‘The Colonel’), Danny Whitehead (Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables) and Adam Robert Lewis (Phantom of the Opera).

Shell, the compere of this afternoon’s cast announcement, said this was a project he couldn’t wait to “get his teeth into”.

Passion begins its limited four week run at the Hope Mill Theatre from 5 May. There are hopes for the production to extend its run, but be sure to grab your tickets now as this is a unique opportunity to see one of Sondheim’s most lyrical and romantic works. 

Visit the Hope Mill Theatre’s website here for full production info, dates and tickets.