In 2018 Marie Curie A New Musical took to the stage in Daehakro Art Theatre Grand Theatre in Seoul for its first try-out performance. In June 2024 the cast is now on stage at Charing Cross Theatre from 1st June-28th July 2024.

Ailsa Davidson leads the cast in the role of Marie Curie. Alongside Thomas Josling as Pierre Curie and Lucy Young Curie’s daughter Irène Curie. The Curie’s were and are renowned scientists who discovered Polonium and Radium. Naming Polonium after her native country, Poland.  One of the many facts about Marie Curie that I wasn’t aware of, the musical manages to educate those like myself who only know snippets about the brilliant scientist. Who was deservedly awarded two Nobel Prizes during her lifetime’s work.

Christie Bhima plays Curie’s best friend Anna Kowalska. Her role in supporting Curie and demanding that she look at the devastating effects that took place in the factory was powerful. She wasn’t going to be silenced and played an important part in Curie’s life. Bhima has a strong stage presence and is a powerful singer.

Set and costume designer Rose Montgomery creates an impressive movable staircase that allows the cast easy access to the upper stage level and doubles up as Curie’s laboratory underneath with a blackboard side covered in scientific equations to show how Curie reached her solutions. Whether they are actual equations or not I don’t know as mathematics isn’t my strong point.

Prema Mehta, the lighting designer brought to life the lasting effect and presence of the dangerous element Radium, on the factory workers. Bright green elements upon their aprons and skin depict the slow decaying damage that these workers faced as they were slowly dying from being exposed. It adds a shocking reminder of how their working conditions had been.

The production remains focused on the humble nature of Marie Curie and her passion for advancing in science while studying in a male-dominated hostile environment. It is documented that she never understood why people were interested in her as a person which Davidson portrays throughout the performance,  never once stealing the limelight.

I wasn’t sure how well a musical about Marie Curie would be done. The production written by Seeun Choun offers an insight into the compassion Curie felt for her friends and family, her strong sense of justice when she realised the Radium was causing deaths and her genius  scientific mind that saw the invention of using radiation in x-ray machines. Marie Curie left behind a legacy that the whole world will continue to benefit from.

Director Sarah Meadows has successfully brought an important historical icon to the stage. Showing how devoted Curie was to her work and her deep-rooted compassion for helping and understanding how to help people get well again and teach her findings to others to continue advancing in medicine and helping more women break through into a male-dominated area.

For more information on Marie Curie The Musical and future productions at Charing Cross Theatre please use the link below.

Four Stars.

Photo credit Pamela Raith.

https://www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/

Cast:

Marie Curie – Ailsa Davidson
Anne Kowalska – Chrissie Bhima
Pierre Curie – Thomas Josling
Ruben DeLong – Richard Meek
Irene Curie/cover Anne Kowalska – Lucy Young
Featured Ensemble/Alternate Marie – Isabel Snaas
Featured Ensemble/cover Ruben – Christopher Killik
Featured Ensemble/cover Pierre – Dean Makowski-Clayton
Featured Ensemble – Maya Kristal Tenenbaum
Featured Ensemble – Yujin Park
On Stage Swing – Rio Maye

Creatives:

Producers: Byungwon Kang & LIVE corp.
Book & Lyrics: Seeun Choun
Music: Jongyoon Choi
Musical Director, English Lyrics, New Musical arrangements & Ensemble arrangements Emma Fraser

Director: Sarah Meadows
English Book Adaptation: Tom Ramsay
English Lyrics Adaptation: Emma Fraser
Literal Translation: Ahreumbi Rew
Associate Director: Olivia Munk
Set & Costume Designer: Rose Montgomery
Lighting Designer: Prema Mehta
Choreographer: Joanna Goodwin
Costume Supervisor: Evelien van Camp
Sound Designer: Andrew Johnson
Casting Director: Jane Deitch
Production Manager: James Anderton
General Management: Ollie Hancock & Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment.