Knights of the Rose post-show Q&A at the Arts Theatre, London, on 26 July 2018. © Peter Jones
On Wednesday afternoon, Jennifer Caldwell was working in the box office at the Arts Theatre, where new musical Knights of the Rose is currently playing. That night, with less than three hours’ rehearsal and having never even seen the show all the way through, she was onstage playing one of the female leads. As show-must-go-on stories go, this one takes some beating – no wonder it lit up West End social media this week.
At last night’s post-show Q&A, Caldwell, who performed again for Thursday’s two-show day, shared more details of her extraordinary rescue experience. The show’s newest star joined Oliver Savile and Christopher Cowley, who play love-rival knights Sir Hugo and Sir Palamon, director-choreographer Racky Plews and me for a fun-filled audience discussion that included riffing demonstrations, costume quips, a Wicked confession, coining of the term “rockspeare” for the show’s new genre combining classical text with classic rock music, and a milestone birthday sing-song.
In this epic tale of love, betrayal and sacrifice, the noble Knights of the Rose must defend their House and their honour. Even as the chivalrous Knights return from a glorious victory, a greater threat against the kingdom stirs. As they face the greatest battle of the age, and betrayal threatens to tear them apart, can true love and honour triumph?
Created by Jennifer Marsden, Knights of the Rose has an original fictional story, woven through with literary references from the likes of Shakespeare and Chaucer as well as the ‘ultimate playlist’ of rock anthems and ballads from Bon Jovi, Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler, No Doubt and others.
Knights of the Rose continues at the West End’s Arts Theatre until 26 August 2018.
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