Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic and Plush Theatricals are thrilled to announce that Emma Rice’s critically acclaimed Romantics Anonymous will be performed live to a socially distanced audience for the final performance of their ‘digital tour’ on 27 September at Bristol Old Vic. This will conclude the company’s week of performances which sees the show streamed live across the UK and internationally from 22 – 26 September.

Romantics Anonymous is funny, tender and painfully awkward, as well as being a delicious love story about breaking the mould and finding the courage to be happy.

Reprising their roles, the full cast is Marc Antolin as ‘Jean-René’, Carly Bawden as ‘Angélique’, Me’sha Bryan as ‘Suzanne/Mimi’, Harry Hepple as ‘Ludo/Remi,’ Laura Jane Matthewson as ‘Young Woman’, Sandra Marvin as ‘Magda/Brigitte/Dr Maxim’, Philip Cox as ‘Father/Pierre/Receptionist’, Gareth Snook as ‘Mercier/Mumbler/Marini’ and Omari Douglas as ‘Salesman/Fred’ joins the cast.

Angélique is a gifted chocolate maker inhibited by social anxiety and Jean-René is the boss of a failing chocolate factory. When Angélique takes a job in Jean-René’s struggling factory, a fragile love affair unfolds.

Artistic director of Wise Children Emma Rice said “I cannot believe that, in less than a week Wise Children will be in a rehearsal room again and in less than 2, we will be performing our beloved Romantics Anonymous to an audience – live! The last weeks have been filled with scrupulous planning and careful preparations to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, but when we get onto that stage everything will change. Under the lights, for a few short hours, we will forget our fears and remember other essentials in life; imagination, celebration, story, community and song. Hand in virtual hand with our audience we will feel the joy and exhilaration of a collective experience; that sweet, delicious, much missed treat! And to think that we will have an actual Bristol audience watching in the flesh on our final night is almost too much excitement for a woman to bear. Joy upon joy, thrill upon thrill! Let the show go on!”

Tom Morris, Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic added, “Tickets for the streamed performances of Romantics Anonymous are flying out the door. Wise Children have shown once again that they are the company lead where the boldest theatre experimenters, artists and audiences alike, are sure to follow. This single “same room” performance is a gift from the company to their loyal and passionate audiences in Bristol and a wonderful opportunity for us at the theatre to begin a journey of welcoming you, the lifeblood of the theatre, which will roll out across the autumn.”

Audience capacity will be limited in line with all current guidelines and extra measures will be put in place to keep audience and performers safe.

DIGITAL TOUR SCHEDULE

SCOTLAND & THE NORTH: Tuesday 22 September, 7.30pm – Eden Court Highlands, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, York Theatre Royal, HOME Manchester, The Lowry Salford, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, Storyhouse Chester, The Festival Theatre, Perth Theatre at Horsecross Arts, Theatre By The Lake

THE MIDLANDS: Wednesday 23 September, 7.30pm – Derby Theatre, Theatre Royal Nottingham, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Royal & Derngate, Oxford Playhouse, Curve Theatre Leicester

WALES & THE SOUTH WEST: Thursday 24 September, 7.30pm – Bristol Old Vic, Exeter Northcott, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Theatre Royal Bath, Lighthouse Poole, Theatr Clwyd

LONDON & THE SOUTH EAST: Friday 25 September, 7.30pm – Brighton Dome & Brighton Festval, Norwich Theatre Royal, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, The Old Vic

USA: Saturday 26 September, 9pm BST / 1pm PST / 4pm EST – The Wallis, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, LA, Berkeley Rep, Shakespeare Theatre Co, Washington DC, Spoleto Festival, Charleston, St Ann’s Warehouse, NYC, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Tickets for the performance on 27 September go on-sale on 14 September at 2pm. bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/romantics-anonymous-live

Tickets for the live-streamed digital tour can be found here: www.wisechildrendigital.com