Set in the twisted world of late 19th Century European Folklore, Franz lives for two people: his girlfriend Marie, and their baby, Georgie. Forbidden from taking leave during the war, they haven’t been able to marry, but his devotion is absolute- he goes above and beyond to provide for Marie and his child. Taresa Howard’s adaptation puts a feminist twist on the story, putting more focus on Marie than ever before.
This week we had the pleasure of being invited to the launch event of Franz & Marie, a new actor-muso musical premiering this September at the Charing Cross Theatre. Inspired by Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck, with music by Rob Shepherd and Chris Broderick (known as The Singing Loins), this “Raw Folk” music is brought to life by director Michael Oakley.
Brenock O’Connor stars as Franz opposite Jade Oswald as Marie; the titular lovers who are dealing with the complex trauma of living during a war. We heard a Franz and Marie duet, Brenock and Jade’s voices suit the style of music and story very well. When chatting with the actors, it is clear they feel the importance of portraying a realistic and non-sensationalised version of their characters. Brenock has been reading accounts from real PTSD survivors of war, as well as examining the way these stories have been fictionalised across time, in order to avoid creating a pastiche of the events depicted in the story. Jade takes on the character of Marie, who is given more agency and focus in this adaptation by Teresa Howard. Jade’s portrayal delves into the complicated realities of Marie’s life, surviving poverty while being a carer and mother to a newborn baby.
We were also treated to an ensemble performance of the song “Pub on the Corner”, where the room came to life, showcasing the full capabilities of the talented actor-muso company. The room was filled with an uplifting folk drinking tune, featuring an accordion, violin, guitars, percussion and many more whimsical instruments. It was delightful to see the performers tell the story so skillfully with their voices, incorporating their instruments into the movement.
Producers Charing Cross Theatre and Korean company ACOM, who have previously developed this show, bring this musical to the UK for the first time this autumn.
This show runs at the Charing Cross Theatre from 28th September to 14th November 2026. Get tickets to Franz & Marie here.