Brenock O’Connor and Jade Oswald will lead the company of haunting new musical Franz & Marie, which debuts at Charing Cross Theatre this September.
Inspired by Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck, this classic fable has a feminist twist, placing Marie alongside Franz Woyzeck at the heart of the narrative.
Set in the twisted and war-torn world of late 19th Century Europe, a platoon of young soldiers have been stationed in an isolated outpost for months, awaiting further orders. Franz Woyzeck, a man haunted by nightmares since his return from the front, has agreed to medical experimentations by the army doctor in order to supplement his meagre income to support.his girlfriend Marie, and their baby, the pressures take their toll with disastrous consequences.
O’Connor is Woyzeck and Oswald is Marie, with a supporting cast including Steve Simmonds as Sergeant Ursid, Paula James as Zella, Richard Emerson Gould as DOctor Simian, Matthew Heywood as Drum Major Varg, Max Alexander-Taylor as André Schmitt, Mark Meadows as Captain Peccary, Eve Polycarpou as Vashti, Elaine Hua Jones as Kat, Antony Lam, Anna-Marie Piazza, Emily Panes and Tom Aubrey.
Its raw, soul-rattling Indie Folk score was originally commissioned by Korean musical theatre company Acom and created by Chris Broderick and Rob Shepherd, key members of cult Medway band The Singing Loins. Their adaptation of Woyzeck was staged at the LG Arts Center in Seoul in 2014 and has now been reimagined as Franz & Marie for its 2026 production at Charing Cross Theatre.
It has book and lyrics by Chris Broderick and music by Rob Shepherd and Chris Broderick, Franz & Marie is newly adapted by Teresa Howard, with additional music, arrangements and orchestrations by Steven Edis.
Franz & Marie is directed by Michael Oakley, with choreography by Ben Wright.
It plays Charing Cross Theatre from September 28 – November 14, 2026. Tickets here.
Top image: Franz & Marie casting announcement (image supplied)