Emma Rice's Romantics Anonymous Announces Live Cast Album

Press release

New York, NY - Wise Children and Plush Theatricals are excited to announce the release of the live cast album for the hit musical ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS. The recording, captured during its 2020 run at Bristol Old Vic, will be available on all streaming platforms starting on Valentine’s Day, February 14th.

Adapted from the film LES ÉMOTIFS ANONYMES, the musical features direction and book by
Emma Rice, with music and lyrics by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond. The production was originally set to tour the United States following the Bristol premiere, but the tour
was halted due to the pandemic.

“We were all heartbroken when COVID forced us to cancel the American tour,” Emma Rice said.
“But this glorious live album is the perfect way to preserve the brilliant performances and pure joy of our beloved Romantics Anonymous. We are delighted to be able to share this tender, delicious and magical musical with the world.”

Funny, tender, and delightfully awkward, ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS is a delicious love story
about breaking the mold and finding the courage to be happy. When Angelique, a gifted chocolate maker inhibited by social anxiety, takes a job in Jean-Rene’s struggling chocolate factory, a fragile love affair unfolds.

“We’re thrilled that the live album will allow even more people to discover this piece that we’re
so incredibly proud of,” said Kooman and Dimond.“Romantics Anonymous has already touched so many hearts in the UK, and now it can continue to reach new audiences around the world. ”The show was hailed as “A sweetly funny, gorgeously tender musical romcom” by The Guardian, and “Truly delicious” by Time Out London.

The album features Marc Antolin as Jean-René, Carly Bawden as Angélique, Brett Brown as
Salesman/Fred, Me’sha Bryan as Suzanne/Mimi, Harry Hepple as Ludo/Remi, Laura Jane
Matthewson as Young Woman, Sandra Marvin as Magda/Brigitte/Dr. Maxim, Craig Pinder as
Father/Pierre/Receptionist, and Gareth Snook as Mercier/Mumbler/Marini.

The orchestra includes Tom Brady (musical direction & piano), Sarah Bowler (cello), Sophie
Creaner (woodwind), and Mike Parkin (percussion), with musical supervision by Nigel Lilley.
Orchestrations are by Simon Hale, mixing by Simon Baker, and mastering by Fritz Meyers.
The world premiere of ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS was originally produced by Shakespeare’s
Globe for the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2017.

For more information, visit www.romanticsanonymous.com

ABOUT WISE CHILDREN
Created and led by Emma Rice, Wise Children launched in April 2018 and is an Arts Council
England National Portfolio Organisation. Based in the South West, we make ground-breaking
work with exceptional artists, and tour across the world. Alongside our shows, we run a unique
professional development programme, training a new and more diverse generation of theatre
practitioners. We make work from our home The Lucky Chance, in Somerset, which is our
creation space and a tiny theatre in which we welcome audiences of all shapes and sizes.
https://www.wisechildren.co.uk/

Instagram:@Wise_Children | Facebook: @WiseChildrenCompany