Landmark musical Chess returns to London, in first major West End revival in over 30 years
The musical Chess will receive a five-week revival by the English National Opera in London’s West End in 2018.
The cult-favorite musical featuring music by ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by Tim Rice will open at the London Coliseum on 26 April.
Chess is set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Two of the world’s greatest chess masters, one American, one Russian, are in danger of becoming the pawns of their governments as their battle for the world title gets underway. Simultaneously their lives are thrown into further confusion by a Hungarian refugee – a woman who becomes the center of their emotional triangle.
It features the songs ‘I Know Him So Well, ‘Anthem’ and ‘One Night in Bangkok’.
Chess first played London in 1986, starring Elaine Paige, Murray Head and Tommy Korberg. The production ran for three years at the Prince Edward Theatre. The 1988 Broadway production, starring Judy Kuhn, Philip Casnoff and David Carroll, ran for just two months at the Imperial Theatre.
Casting for Chess will be announced at a later date.
The show will close on 2 June. This production will mark the first West End revival since the musical's original 1986 debut.
- Tickets are on sale now at eno.org
