Franz & Marie

Franz & Marie is a new musical at Charing Cross Theatre, based on Georg Büchner's famously unfinished play Woyzeck, updated for modern audiences. It has a book and lyrics by Chris Broderick, was created by key members of the Kentish underground cult band The Singing Loins with music by the band, and is freshly adapted from the original by Teresa Howard with additional music arrangements and orchestrations by Steven Edis. Set in the twisted world of late 19th century European folklore, it follows traumatised soldier Franz Woyzeck, who lives with his girlfriend Marie and their baby and goes to extreme lengths to protect them while struggling with war-induced hallucinations. Told with soul-rattling indie raw folk and sharp dark humour, it explores class prejudice and toxic masculinity.