★★★★★ ‘Enormously uplifting and infectiously sweet... A total treat.’ The Stage
Virginia Gay’s joyous, gender-flipped retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, packed with music, wit and aching romance, is a love letter to hope; to language and desire; to the irrepressible magic of theatre. A big-hearted, irreverent rom-com, perfect for a feel good Christmas treat.
Cyrano is the most interesting person in any room – a wordsmith, a charmer. She works twice as hard and runs twice as fast as the pretty boys, because she’s deeply ashamed of something about herself. Enter Roxanne: brilliant and beautiful, with a penchant for poetry and a way with words, just like Cyrano. But Roxanne only has eyes for Yan: hot, manly Yan; all brawn-and-no-brains Yan; who is dumbstruck around Roxanne. Probably shy, right? Until suddenly he starts saying the most amazing things. But it’s not Yan writing these perfect love scenes, it’s Cyrano …
In the press
Fringe First Award Winner 2024
The Scotsman
The Fringe Five 2024 | Edinburgh’s Breakout Theatremakers – Virginia Gay
The Stage
★★★★★ ‘Enormously uplifting and infectiously sweet. This is theatre at its most happy-making. A total treat.’
The Stage
★★★★★ ‘Dazzlingly clever… witty, knowing, satirical and heartfelt all at once’
Financial Times
★★★★ ‘A sizzling and hilarious 21st century comedy… A damn near perfect night out’
The Scotsman
★★★★ ‘Fresh and funny… Gay impresses in the title role’
The Times
★★★★ ‘A mighty hoot… Told with buckets of goodwill’
WhatsOnStage
★★★★ ‘Sparkles with wit and intelligence… Brims with sensuality’
Daily Mail
★★★★ Larky, comic and meta-theatrical’
The Telegraph
★★★★ ‘Virginia Gay is completely captivating… a wonderfully bold and vibrant version of Cyrano’
Broadway World
Cast
CYRANO | VIRGINIA GAY
ROXANNE | JESSICA WHITEHURST
YAN | JOSEPH EVANS
1 | TESSA WONG
2 | DAVID TARKENTER
3 | TANVI VIRMANI
Creative Team
WRITER | VIRGINIA GAY
DIRECTOR | CLARE WATSON
SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER | AMANDA STOODLEY
LIGHTING DESIGNER | ANDY PURVES
SOUND DESIGNER | TOBY YOUNG
MUSICAL DIRECTOR | PAUL HERBERT
INTIMACY COORDINATOR | ANA BEATRIZ MEIRELES
CASTING DIRECTOR | NAOMI DOWNHAM
PRODUCTION MANAGER | TITCH GOSLING
COMPANY STAGE MANAGER | ROGER COLLINS
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER | ELISE PAIGE ANDRÉ
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | HANNAH SANDS
COSTUME SUPERVISOR | LUCY PANDZA
PRODUCERS & GENERAL MANAGERS | BONNIE ROYAL & MICHAEL STEVENS
Artwork photography by Daniel Boud and Michael Wharley, design by Rebecca Pitt.
Roast Productions in association with Park Theatre present
Cyrano
By Virginia Gay after Edmond Rostand, Directed by Clare Watson