MULTI AWARD-WINNING JAZZ ARTIST JAMIE CULLUM TO COMPOSE MUSIC FOR RSC’S THE CONSTANT WIFE
DATE ISSUED: TUESDAY 6 MAY 2025
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Multi-million-selling British pianist, singer and broadcaster Jamie Cullum will make his theatrical debut with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) this summer, composing new music for The Constant Wife by Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade (Posh, The Riot Club, Rivals) based on W. Somerset Maugham’s original play of the same title. The production will be directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and feature Rose Leslie (Vigil, Miss Austen, Game of Thrones) in the lead role.
Jamie Cullum said: “I am thrilled to be composing the music for The Constant Wife and so excited to be working in theatre like this for the first time. As a composer who often works within the jazz genre, I am very familiar with the idea of evolving traditions and searching for new ways to play classic material. I feel honoured that the brilliant RSC are entrusting me with this opportunity to bring some musical ingenuity to Laura’s deliciously funny and subversive adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s original 1926 script. It’s already been a joy working with Tamara Harvey and bouncing ideas around with her. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into rehearsals.”
RSC Co-Artistic Director and director of The Constant Wife, Tamara Harvey said: “It’s brilliant to be working with Jamie on the music for The Constant Wife. Jamie’s contribution has invigorated contemporary jazz and engaged a new generation of listeners. Who better to help us create the world of The Constant Wife, 100 years after it was written? Laura Wade has injected this brilliant classic play with her modern sparkle and bite and Jamie’s music promises to bring another dimension to the story. I’m so excited to see where we go together – it’s already sounding incredible.”
Jamie Cullum is a globally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his unique blend of jazz, pop, and rock. Most famous for his dynamic stage presence and prodigious musical talent, Cullum first came to prominence with his major label breakthrough Twentysomething whose multi-million sales make it one of the UK’s best-selling albums of all time.
Jamie continues to win over audiences worldwide, earning a reputation as one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of his generation. His legendary concert performances have seen him tour over forty countries and grace the stages of festivals from Glastonbury to Coachella to Fuji Rock in Japan in addition to accepting invitations from President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II to play at The White House and Buckingham Palace respectively.
He approaches all aspects of his career as he has from the beginning, as a fan and a student with seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm. In addition to his enduringly successful recording career (nine studio albums and counting), he has established himself as a multi-award-winning radio presenter via his weekly show on BBC Radio 2. Over fourteen years and 1k shows, Jamie has interviewed the likes of Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Norah Jones and Lars Ulrich and introduced new talent such as Laura Mvula, Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective and Laufey to his million-strong listenership.
Cullum’s radio show affords him the opportunity to collaborate with musicians young and old, something Jamie also does across a variety of other projects, both live and recorded, charitable and commercial. Jamie Cullum is held in rare esteem by his peers, this is obvious whenever he goes to where musicians congregate-in studios, at award ceremonies or a festival’s backstage. Amongst his proudest achievements was winning the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Song, one of the industry’s highest achievements, and voted for by his fellow songwriters including the likes of Lilly Allen. Furthermore, he has been invited back 5 years in a row now to sit on the judging panel for the Mercury Music prize amongst legendary musicians and music industry bods alike from Stormzy to Annie Mac.
Following a 14 date SOLD OUT UK wide tour in October 2024, Jamie conquests further headline dates in Europe throughout early 2025. Plus, he plays a run of magical festivals across summer from Henley Music Festival to the stunning Jazzaldia Festival in San Sebastian as well as shows across Germany, Austria and France to boot.
The Constant Wife will open at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 20 June – 2 August, with press night on 1 July 2025. The full company will be announced soon.
Joining Wade and Harvey on the creative team are Set and Co-Costume Designer, Anna Fleischle; Co-Costume Designer Cat Fuller; Lighting Designer, Ryan Day; Composer Jamie Cullum; Sound Designer, Claire Windsor; Movement Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and Casting Director, Charlotte Sutton CDG.
This production is commissioned by and presented in association with David Pugh Limited.
For further press information please contact: Bethany Arnold, Senior Publicist, Bethany.arnold@rsc.org.uk
X: @TheRSC
Instagram: @thersc
LISTINGS INFORMATION
THE CONSTANT WIFE
by Laura Wade
Based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham
Swan Theatre
Friday 20 June – Saturday 2 August
Press Night: Tuesday 1 July at 7pm
Tickets from £10
RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and playwright Laura Wade reunite after their Olivier Award-winning collaboration, Home, I’m Darling, to reimagine W. Somerset Maugham’s subversive comedy, The Constant Wife, in a sparkling new version.
Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Vigil) plays Constance, a 1920s heroine with a decidedly modern spirit.
Audio Described performance: Saturday 12th July, 1.30pm and Friday 1st August, 7.30pm
Chilled performance: Wednesday 16th July, 1.30pm
Captioned performance: Thursday 17th July, 7.30pm and Wednesday 23rd July, 1.30pm
Chilled and Handheld Captioned performance: Saturday 2nd August, 1.30pm
Creative Team Talk: Monday 30th June, 5.15pm
Post Show Talk: Tuesday 29th July
NOTES TO EDITORS
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
The RSC is generously supported by RSC America
The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund
With thanks to Season Supporter Charles Holloway OBE
RSC £10 Tickets for 14-25s supported by TikTok
The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
New Work at the RSC is generously supported by Hawthornden Foundation and The Drue and H.J. Heinz II Charitable Trust
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)’s mission is to bring people together to experience stories that deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and the world around us, and that bring joy. Shakespeare’s restless exploration of all of human nature is our inspiration and touchstone. The company’s roots lie in the bold vision of a local brewer, Edward Fordham Flower, who in 1879 established a theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon with his son Charles. The RSC as we know it today was formed by Sir Peter Hall, whose ambition was to produce new plays alongside those of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. We continue this today across our three permanent theatres in Stratford – the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and The Other Place – and indeed online and around the globe. We believe everybody’s life can be enriched by culture and creativity. Our transformative Creative Learning and Engagement programmes reach over half a million young people and adults each year. We have collaborated with generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future.
Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
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