The Pianist completes Southampton premiere ahead of major London run

Updated 12-09-26

A new musical telling of Władysław Szpilman’s extraordinary life completes its world premiere run in Southampton today, with its next chapter taking the production to London for a seven-week season. The Pianist has played its first performances at Mayflower Studios from 9 to 12 September, ahead of transferring to Park Theatre from 15 October to 28 November 2026, with a national press night on 22 October.

Rather than simply adapting the story familiar from Szpilman’s landmark memoir and the Academy Award-winning film it inspired, the production puts the celebrated Polish pianist and composer’s own music at the centre of the theatrical telling. Daniel Krikler leads the company as Władysław Szpilman in the new musical, which is adapted and directed by Thom Southerland, whose previous credits include Titanic the Musical.

The production explores Szpilman’s life as a musician in Warsaw, evoking the concert halls, cafés and cultural life of the city before following his experiences through one of the darkest periods of its history. Szpilman, a Polish Jewish pianist and composer, survived the Holocaust and the destruction of Warsaw, later recounting his experiences in the memoir which became internationally known as The Pianist. The new stage production seeks to place his identity as an artist alongside the story of his survival.

His original compositions are incorporated throughout the musical, with new arrangements, musical supervision and orchestrations by Simon Lee, the long-time musical director for Andrew Lloyd Webber. New lyrics have also been created for Szpilman’s music by an international collection of writers and musicians including two-time Grammy nominee Carol Connors, David Batteau, Wendy Lands and Jim Gillard, Grammy-nominated Michael Ruff, Marcy Heisler and Szpilman’s son Andreas Szpilman.

Joining Krikler is an international company of actor-musicians. Rosalind Ford plays Mother, with TJ Holmes as Father and Nitai Levi as Henryk. Elżbieta Kalicka plays Regina, Melania Maggiore is Halina and Mischa Jardine takes the role of Janina. Oliver Grant plays Hosenfeld, while Max Roll appears as Gimpel/Majorek. The company is completed by Oliver Magor and Erin Rowlatt, with Rowlatt making her professional stage debut.

Southerland previously said the production required performers who were not only actors but accomplished musicians and versatile storytellers, describing the company assembled for the premiere as “extraordinary”. The musical’s creative team also includes choreography and movement direction by Karen Bruce, set and video design by Andrzej Goulding, costume design by Jonathan Lipman, lighting by Robbie Butler and sound by Gareth Tucker for Autograph Sound.

Malcolm Forbes-Peckham is musical director, Josh Whatsize assistant director, with casting by Ginny Schiller and Ben Armstrong. DEM Productions provides executive producing and general management. Following its final performance at Mayflower Studios today, The Pianist has just over a month before beginning its London season.

The Park Theatre run starts on Thursday 15 October and continues until Saturday 28 November 2026.

Get ticket information and further details from the official site HERE.