Initial casting has now been confirmed for ENO's production of Chess which is due to run in London for the first time in 30 years for five weeks
only at the Coliseum from 1st May until 2nd June 2018, with previews scheduled to
begin on April 26th.
Michael Ball is to star as the Russian Anatoly Sergievsky with X Factor winner Alexandra Burke
as Svetlana Sergievsky. Joining them is Tim Howar (Rock of
Ages, co lead singer of Mike and the Mechanics) as Frederick Trumper, Cassidy Janson (Beautiful & Leading Ladies) as Florence Vassy
and Murray Head as the Arbiter (having
originated the role of Frederick in the show's 1986 West End premiere).
The production will feature a 48 piece orchestra and tells the story of a romantic triangle
between two players in a world chess championship, and a woman who
manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists
were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters
personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby
Fischer and the oddity of the Merano championship in the musical is
based on the similar oddities which occurred during the 1978 World
Championship between Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov. The musical contains
some powerful classic numbers including I Know Him So Well, One Night In
Bangkok, Anthem and Heaven Help My Heart.
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