| The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | |
| Music: | Darren Clark |
| Lyrics: | Darren Clark Jethro Compton |
| Basis: | "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| Premiere Date: | 15 May 2019 |
| Premiere Location: | 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 Marowe 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 is scheduled to transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End. The show is expected to begin performances from 10 October 2024 and is planned to run through 15 February 2025. John Dagleish will play 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.
| 2019 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Button | align=center | James Marowe | align=center | Jamie Parker |
| Elowen Keene | align=center | Rosalind Ford | align=center | Molly Osborne |
| Supporting cast | Matthew Burns | |||
| Philippa Hogg | ||||
| align=center | Joey Hickman | Jonathan Charles | ||
| Oonagh Cox | ||||
| Anna Fordham | ||||
| Damien James | ||||
| Ann Marcuson | ||||
| Jack Quarton | ||||
| Benedict Salter | ||||
| align=center | Tonny Shim | |||
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]