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Somewhere beyond the sea… La France – so near yet so tout à fait différente…


Classic chansons sung by Charles Trenet, Yves Montand and Jacques Brel became familiar to English-speaking audiences in versions adopted by American singers, with lyrics adapted to match. 


Here they will be sung in fresh English translations – and a bonne bouche of French – for more of their original bite, charm and je ne sais quoi.


Singer and actor Christopher Staines (“Excellent”, The Guardian; “Captivating presence” The Stage, “Astounding panache”, The Public Reviews) has performed in productions in the West End, at the National Theatre, in Europe and America and in musicals ranging from Cabaret to The Hired Man. He started listening to the songs of these chanteurs as a teenager in the suburbs – and relished the glimpse of a life elsewhere. He will be accompanied by Tony and Olivier-nominated composer, lyricist and arranger Jason Carr on piano.


The immediacy of live performance is the chanteur’s raison d’être. Sands Films Music Room, with its uniquely intimate yet theatrical ambience, is just the place to breathe new life into these songs, including La Mer, Ne Me Quitte Pas…. and BOUM!


Christopher Staines Musicals include: THE GREAT GATSBY (Arts Theatre); THE RHYTHMICS (Metta Theatre, including recent studio cast album); THE HIRED MAN (Colchester Mercury, Leicester Curve); THE MUSIC MAN (Regent’s Park); FLORA THE RED MENACE (Orange Tree); CABARET (Donmar Warehouse). He has appeared at the National Theatre with lead roles in HAMLET, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER and AMY’S VIEW, in OUR TOWN (Almeida) and THE TEMPEST (RSC) and in many other stage productions across the country, as well as on television in dramas such as QUIZ and WOLF HALL.


Jason Carr Crazy Coqs regular and Tony and Olivier-award nominee Jason Carr has written music and lyrics for new musicals including BORN AGAIN, THE WATER BABIES and SIX PICTURES OF LEE MILLER (nominated for the British Composer Awards), and has composed incidental music for over 50 plays at the NT, RSC, in the West End and on Broadway. Orchestrations include the Menier Chocolate Factory’s SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (all also West End and Broadway, winning the Drama Desk Award and two Tony nominations), as well as FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Olivier nomination). Other artists he has accompanied in solo shows include Michael Ball, Dame Felicity Lott, Anne Reid and Maria Friedman.