Joanna Riding starring in Umbrellas of Cherbourg at Gielgud in March

Grammy and Oscar winning composer Michel Legrand (Yentl, Windmills of your Mind) romantic musical The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg is transferring into the West End's Gielgud Theatre, with previews from March 5th and the opening night set for March 22nd. .

It will star Joanna Riding (Carousel, A Little Night Music, Witches of Eastwick, Bill Elliott) and cabaret performer Meow Meow and premieres next month at Leicester Curve where it runs from 11th-26 February 2011.

"Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" was originally a 1964 musical film staring Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo. The story centres on the doomed romance of young lovers Genevieve and Guy, which goes horribly wrong when Guy is called up for a two-year tour of duty in the Algerian War. The musical features  two of Legrand’s greatest songs “Watch What Happens” and “I Will Wait For You”.

The stage version features new orchestrations by Legrand, is designed by Lez Brotherston and directed by Kneehigh artistic director Emma Rice