Cyrano de Bergerac

‘Look at me. Who in the world could love a face like this? My nose goes everywhere ahead of me!’

Cyrano de Bergerac (1897) is a classic French play by Edmond Rostand, although we will be performing it in English. The exuberant story gained its fame through sword fights, the poetic agony of unrequited love, a skewed self-image and, above all, panache.

Our hero is a charming and larger-than-life poet and soldier who is convinced the love of his life, Roxane, could never love him back because of his enormous nose. In a desperate attempt to at least let her hear his feelings, even if she will never know they are his, he helps the handsome but tongue-tied Christian too woo her in his place.

These rich characters are accompanied by a hateful third suitor, a wannabe-poet/baker and his far more practical wife, Roxane’s dry and witty governess, as well as a plethora of friends, musketeers, pickpockets and more.

One thing that makes this play stand out is its versatility, as it ventures into hot-blooded romance, hilarious comedy, thrilling action and heart-breaking tragedy. In short, a delicious story for actors to tackle.