The Pianist

The world stage premiere of The Pianist.

Adapted and directed by Thom Southerland, this new production turns Wladyslaw Szpilman's memoir into a theatre piece about one of the most remarkable true stories of the twentieth century. It features Szpilman's own music on stage for the first time, presented as a world stage premiere.

The score draws on popular songs and compositions from the output known as the "Polish Gershwin", which made the composer a star in Warsaw. The arrangements are by Simon Lee, long-time musical director for Andrew Lloyd Webber. A cast of actor-musicians recreates the golden age of Jewish Warsaw, with its concert halls, candlelit cafés and a city devoted to music.

The production treats the music as a way of linking past and present, and as a reflection on creativity's power to outlast the most turbulent periods of history. Park Theatre London, the venue hosting this production, presents concerts and shows throughout the year.