| The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | |
|---|---|
 West End promotional poster | |
| Music | Darren Clark |
| Lyrics | Darren Clark Jethro Compton |
| Book | Jethro Compton |
| Basis | "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| Premiere | 15 May 2019: Southwark Playhouse |
| Productions | |
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a musical with book and lyrics by Jethro Compton, music and lyrics by Darren Clark, and based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The musical made its world premiere at the Southwark Playhouse on 15 May 2019 for a limited run until 8 June. [1] The production was directed by Jethro Compton. The cast included James Marlowe in the titular role, alongside Matt Burns, Rosalind Ford, Joey Hickman, and Philippa Hogg. [2]
The production returned to the Southwark Playhouse running from 22 May to 1 July 2023 with an expanded cast which includes Matthew Burns, Jonathan Charles, Oonagh Cox, Anna Fordham, Philippa Hogg, Damien James, Ann Marcuson, Molly Osborne, Jamie Parker, Jack Quarton, Benedict Salter and Tonny Shim. [3]
The production transferred to the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End. Performances began from 10 October 2024 and is planned to run through 15 February 2025. John Dagleish plays Benjamin Button with Clare Foster as Eloween Keene featuring the majority of the 2023 Southwark Playhouse supporting cast. [4] [5]
The musical takes place at the end of World War I in a small Cornwall fishing village and follows Benjamin Button as he lives through the twentieth century. [6] As in the original short story, Benjamin Button is born as an old man and ages in reverse. [6]
| Character | World Premiere [2] | Off-West End [3] | West End [5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Benjamin Button | James Marlowe | Jamie Parker | John Dagleish |
| Elowen Keene | Rosalind Ford Philippa Hogg | Molly Osborne | Clare Foster |
The musical received five-star reviews from WhatsOnStage, Broadway World, The Reviews Hub and The Upcoming. [7] Its 2023 revival won the 2024 Offies award for best musical production. [8]
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