A Face in the Crowd

  1. Home
  2. UK
  3. News
  4. A Face in the Crowd
Silhouette of a person standing in front of a large screen displaying a close-up image of a person pointing and speaking. The screen is divided into multiple smaller panels, creating a composite effect. The colors are predominantly shades of blue and green.
A Face in The Crowd at the Young Vic. Design by Emilie Chen

Cautionary tale about the dangers of celebrity, power and politics

The Young Vic Theatre announces Ramin Karimloo and Anoushka Lucas in the world premiere of A Face in the Crowd, directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah in his final production as Young Vic Artistic Director, designed by Anna Fleischle.

This brand new adaptation of the Hollywood classic features original songs by Grammy Award-winner Elvis Costello and a Book by Sarah Ruhl (Eurydice, The Clean House), based on an original story by Budd Schulberg and the Warner Bros Film. It will run at the Young Vic from 10 September to 9 November.

Tony and Olivier Award nominated actor Ramin Karimloo, seen in major musical roles including as The Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, will play Lonesone Rhodes. Actor, singer, songwriter and playwright Anoushka Lucas returns to the Young Vic where she performed as Laurey in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! and in the West End transfer, earning an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She will play Marcia Jeffries. Further casting will be announced in due course.

You gotta keep him here, Miss Jeffries. He’s the goose who laid the golden egg.

When local radio producer Marcia Jeffries interviews drunk drifter ‘Lonesome Rhodes’ in his jail cell, she immediately sees his potential and gives him a slot on her show. But as Lonesome's fans grow more clamorous and the politicians start taking notice, Marcia realises she has unleashed a force she can no longer control.

A Face in the Crowd is a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of elevating celebrities to positions of unchecked power.

A Face in the Crowd: 10 September - 9 November 2024

Venu: The Young Vic Theatre, 66 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LZ

Tickets: A Face in the Crowd | Young Vic website