It was first produced in London at the King's Theatre in 1992, before transferring to the West End — also to the Criterion Theatre, where it is now being re-staged.
Featuring music by Janet Hood and lyrics and additional text by Bill Russell, inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology, each of the monologues is written from the perspective of characters who have died from AIDS, and the songs represent the feelings of friends and family members dealing with the loss.
This production, which is directed by Stephen Whitson with musical direction by Dean Austin, features a cast of over 30 West End performers, including Vivienne Acheampong, Simon Bailey, Paul Baker, Daniel Boys, Natalie Bush, James Charlton, Adam Colbeck Dunn, Michelle Crook, Fra Fee, Sarah French, Tom Gillies, Rachel Lea Gray, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Emma Hatton, Paul Hazel, Nick Hendrix, Graham Hoadly, Freddy Hutchins, Lauren Ingram, Kurt Kansley, Emma Kingston, Emma Lindars, Leon Lopez, Grace McKee, Matt McKenna, Ako Mitchell, Ursula Mohan, Katie Paine, Michael Pickering, Ella Marshall-Pinder, Kelly Price, Sophia Ragavelas, Grace Reynolds, Paul Riddiford, Joanna Riding, Oliver Saville, Adam Stafford, Alwyne Taylor, Izabella Urbanowicz, Miles Western, Emma Williams, Gary Wood and Matthew Wycliffe. All appear subject to availability.
All profits go to The Make a Difference Trust. Originally founded as West End Cares in 1990 and later becoming Theatrecares, it raises funds for HIV and AIDS Projects that raise awareness and provide care, support and education in the U.K. and Sub-Saharan Africa.
To book tickets, contact the box office on 08448 471778 or visit http://www.madtrust.org.uk/elegies.php for more details.