Carousel

This show has now closed, click here for a listing of current and future London shows

Previewed 22 November 2008, opened 2 December 2008, closed 20 June 2009 at the Savoy Theatre in London

A major revival of the classic musical Carousel in London

The story of the love affair between the smooth-talking carousel barker, Billy Bigelow, and a naive young mill worker, Julie Jordan. Richard Rodger's and Oscar Hammerstein's musical Carousel broke the mould with its gritty, courageous and emotional look at relationships when it opened on Broadway in 1945 since when the show has captivated audiences across the world with one of the most ravishing and celebrated scores of all time which features The Carousel Waltz; If I Loved You; June is Bustin' Out All Over; and You'll Never Walk Alone.

"A blazingly good production. This show is perfection" The Daily Mail

The cast for this revival of Carousel in London features Jeremiah James as 'Billy Bigelow', Alexandra Silber as 'Julie Jordan' and Lesley Garrett as 'Nettie'. Casting subject to change. The production, which comes into London's West End following a UK regional tour, is directed by Lindsay Posner with choreography by Adam Cooper.

"Enchanting, vivid and poignant. An experience to cherish" The London Evening Standard

Jeremiah James is probably best known as a member of the internationally renowned recording group, Teatro. His theatre credits include the Broadway productions of Legally Blonde: The Musical, The Full Monty and White Christmas. Alexandra Silber returns to the Savoy Theatre where she was most recently seen in the award-winning production of Fiddler on the Roof. Lesley Garrett, CBE, Britain's most popular soprano, comes to Carousel following her featured role in the current Sound of Music revival at The London Palladium as the 'Mother Abbess'.

"Terrific. The Finest score Rodgers ever produced" The Times

"It may be winter outside, but inside the Savoy Theatre, June is bustin' out all over in Lindsay Posner's full-blooded and moving new revival of Carousel, Rodgers and Hammerstein's darkly romantic musical of doomed love, domestic violence and muscular melodies... Adam Cooper's choreography and William Dudley's ocean projections bring to boisterous life the brawny harpooners and happy picnickers in this New England sea-faring community. Give it a whirl." The Mail on Sunday

"Adam Cooper's choreography sets the stage alight with high-kicks, dangerous lifts and a testosterone-charged athleticism that is thrilling" The Daily Telegraph

"Carousel, the 1956 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, has opened at the Savoy in a golden galloper of a production that entrances from start to finish - magnificently directed by Lindsay Posner... Lesley Garrett plays matronly Nettie Fowler with contagious enjoyment... Alexandra Silber's earnestly inward Julie Jordan is also wonderful... Lauren Hood's Carrie Pipperidge is delicious... Jeremiah James's Billy Bigelow is outstanding too... But the magic of the show is not confined to its fabulous cast. Adam Cooper's choreography - intelligent, spontaneous, sexy - grows naturally out of the action." The Observer

"Justice has been done to one of the greatest of all musicals. The show often seems to explode with vitality. The singing is outstanding" The Daily Telegraph

"In the midst of a cold, joyless and heavily indebted London, the Savoy Theatre has come up with an explosion of colour, extravagance and life with Carousel... A tremendous Christmas treat. The sets are stunning and at one point I counted 19 people on stage. I doubt anyone will be able to afford to put anything like this on again for quite some time. See this show now - while you can still afford it and while the producers can, too." The Sunday Telegraph

Lesley Garrett, who plays the role of 'Nettie Flower' in this revival of Carousel in London says: "It's a very natural and easy thing for me to do musicals. There are lots of lovely roles for more mature singers in musical theatre, which I'm not necessarily finding the opportunity to do in opera. What I have in Nettie Fowler is the richest, most wonderful character... For me Carousel is the musical's musical. I think it's the greatest musical Rodgers and Hammerstein ever wrote - it was certainly Rodgers' absolute favourite. And I'm attracted to it because of its darkness it is almost operatic in that respect. People tend to associate musicals with lighter subjects - it's unusual for them to have such incredibly dark and profound meaning. And the music is just heavenly too - it has some of their very best songs. June is Bustin' Out All Over is just fabulously funny - and then I have to sing this icon of a song, You'll Never Walk Alone, which has an almost hymn-like status."

Carousel at the Savoy Theatre previewed from 22 November 2008 and opened 2 December 2008.