The Stage

Rice revamps Blondel for Pleasance Islington run

Published Wednesday 2 August 2006 at 17:15 by Louise Cooke

Oscar wining lyricist Tim Rice has revamped his 1983 musical Blondel for its first professional performance in over two decades.

The show, which was co-written by the late Stephen Oliver was originally conceived by Rice and long-time collaborator Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1969, when it was titled Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You.

Blondel was first staged in Bath in September 1983 before it moved to the West End in November, performing at the Aldwych and Old Vic theatres, where it ran for almost two years in total. It tells the story of an unappreciated court musician during the reign of Richard The Lionheart.

The revival will be directed by Patrick Wilde, who has also worked on This Life and Monarch of The Glen. Rice has reworked the piece to suit a smaller ensemble cast in the Pleasance Theatre and it is now shorter than for its original West End run.

Blondel opens on November 23 and runs until December 31 at the Pleasance Theatre, Islington.