The Braille Legacy
Acclaimed director Thom Southerland (Ragtime, Titanic, Grey Gardens) directs the world première of  The Braille Legacy, starring West End star Jérôme Pradon
 
The Braille Legacy tells the thrilling, true, inspirational and epic story of Louis Braille, a young blind boy who wanted the same chance in life as those who see and ended up improving the lives of millions of blind people around the world.
 
In Paris in the 19th century, blind people were victims of profound discrimination. Louis Braille, a bright young mind with a mad dream, arrives at the Royal Institute of Blind Youth, searching for the same chance as everyone else: to be free and independent. But he soon discovers that people and things aren’t always what they first seem. By sheer determination and courage, he stumbles upon something revolutionary: a simple idea, a genius invention, a legacy.
 
Two hundred years ago, Louis Braille changed the world by inventing the tactile system of communication the Braille alphabet, liberating the “People of the Night” and introducing literacy, knowledge and culture to a people who were otherwise trapped. It was their journey into the light.
 
Olivier Award nominated Jérôme Pradon's West End credits include the UK premiere of the musical Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, Guillaume in Martin Guerre, The Man in Whistle Down the Wind, Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, Chris in Miss Saigon, Javert in Les Misérables in London and Marius in Paris, and Judas in the Emmy-winning video of Jesus Christ Superstar.
 
The Braille Legacy has an original French Book and Lyrics by Sébastien Lancrenon, Music by Jean-Baptiste Saudray, with an English translation by Ranjit Bolt. Music Supervision and Orchestrations are by Simon Lee.

The Braille Legacy is supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People & L'Occitane

*Audio Described performances will take place on Saturday 27th May, 15:00 & Monday 29th May, 19:30. To book audio described seats please contact the box office directly on 02079258040 or email us at boxoffice@charingcrosstheatre.co.uk. 


Now Playing

Franz & Marie

Book Now
Franz & Marie

"Franz & Marie is a visceral journey into the heart of a good man broken by a bad world."

Set in the twisted world of late 19th Century European Folklore, after action on the front line a platoon of young soldiers has been stationed in an isolated outpost for months awaiting further orders. Among them is Franz Woyzeck, a man haunted by nightmares since his return. He sees fire in the sky—hallucinations that blur the line between reality and trauma. Franz lives for two people: his girlfriend Marie, and their baby, Georgie. Forbidden from taking leave during the war, they haven’t been able to marry, but his devotion is absolute- he goes above and beyond to provide for Marie and his child.  

 

“An Authentic Soul-Rattling Folk Musical” 

Franz & Marie is a unique and visceral musical that breathes new life into Georg Büchner’s classic German tragedy, Woyzeck, with soul-rattling Indie Raw Folk.  It was originally commissioned two decades ago by the award-winning Korean company Acom and created by key members of the Kentish underground cult band, The Singing Loins.  Franz & Marie is an adaptation of that Singing Loins show, reimagined with a 14 strong cast of actor-musicians.

"The brutal poetry of the ordinary man”

Directed by Michael Oakley, Franz & Marie has been adapted for the stage by Teresa Howard based on the book and lyrics by Chris Broderick, music by Rob Shepherd and Chris Broderick - The Singing Loins, arrangements, orchestrations and, additional music by Steven Edis, choreography by Ben Wright, lighting design by Christopher Nairne and sound design by Andrew Johnson and Oscar Cotran with design by Bretta Gerecke. Fight Choreographer: Ronin Traynor.


More Info