Sorry, Chess closed on 02 Jun 2018

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About the show

Landmark musical Chess returns to the West End for the first time on over 30 years, receiving a revival at the London Coliseum. Created by the legendary lyricist Tim Rice and ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Chess is an emotional love story set against the backdrop and tension of the Cold War.

Chess sees a tournament take place between two grandmasters, one a vicious American and the other an honest Russian. All that lies between them is a chessboard, and a woman who falls for the wrong man. As an emotional love triangle comes into play, political struggles reach a climax that threatens to destroy their lives.

A battle that masks an undercurrent of American-Soviet politics, romantic rivalries become the prize. Written by Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita), and ABBA’s Andersson and Ulvaeus, Chess features show-stopping numbers including “I Know Him So Well”, “One Night in Bangkok”, “Heaven Help My Heart” and “Pity the Child”.

Premiering in 1986 at the Prince Edward Theatre, Chess originally featured a cast including Elaine Paige, Murray Head, Tommy Köberg and Denis Quilley, and was directed by Trevor Nunn. After earning three Olivier Award-nominations, the musical went on to premiere on Broadway in 1988.

Casting for the 2018 revival includes theatre legend Michael Ball as Anatoly Sergievsky, Alexandra Burke as Svetlana Sergievsky, Cassidy Janson as Florence Vassy, Cedric Neal as The Arbiter, Tim Howar as Freddie Trumper and Phillip Browne as Molokov.

Laurence Connor directs the revival, with previous credits including award-winning productions of School of Rock and Miss Saigon. Stephen Mear choreographs, with West End credits including Gypsy, Top Hat and Sunset Boulevard.

Chess is the phenomenal musical that returns to London for a strictly limited season. Chess plays at the London Coliseum from April 26th to June 2nd 2018, with an official opening on May 1st 2018.