Hymn to Love

Jermyn Street Theatre
presents

The Reaction Season

Hymn To Love

Homage to Piaf

Devised by Annie Castledine, Steve Trafford, and Elizabeth Mansfield

Starring Elizabeth Mansfield

“I’m singing tonight. There’s nothing else. Nothing but singing.”

In a Manhattan hotel room, Edith Piaf rehearses for her last US concert. But for Piaf the hotel holds memories. Eight years earlier she had telephoned her lover, boxer Marcel Cerdan, begging him to overcome his fear of flying and leave France to be with her. Hours later she heard the terrible news that his plane had crashed. Marcel was dead.

An extraordinary musical homage to Piaf, Hymn to Love explores love, loss and longing with 13 of Piaf’s songs, each given fresh meaning in vibrant new translations. Passionate, memorable and unmissable theatre.

Starring Elizabeth Mansfield

Praise for Hymn to Love

'A triumph!' - The Independent

'Mansfield delivers the famous songs superbly' - The Guardian

'Beautifully staged … Electrifying singing' The Telegraph

Damian Cruden directs. Cruden is Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal, and his production of The Railway Children won an Olivier Award in 2011.

Elizabeth Mansfield plays Piaf. Mansfield was nominated for a Best Actress Olivier Award for her performance as Marie Lloyd in Marie, and has worked at most of the UK’s leading theatres.

Running time around 1 hour 25 minutes. NO interval.

Creative Team
Songs by Edith Piaf
Translated by Steve Trafford
Directed by Damian Cruden
Lighting by Andew J Lindsay
Sound by Yvonne Gilbert

A Theatre by the Lake and York Theatre Royal co-production, in association with Ensemble.