What's On
A Watermill Theatre Production

Piaf

By Pam Gems
Until 17 May
There is a Parisian cobbled street, with large red lettering in the road spelling Piaf. It is in a spotlight and flying above the letters is a sparrow.
There is a Parisian cobbled street, with large red lettering in the road spelling Piaf. It is in a spotlight and flying above the letters is a sparrow.

Piaf

About Piaf

Be drawn into the extraordinary world of Édith Piaf, the French chanteuse who captivated the world with her unquestionable talent. Pam Gems’ play, starring Audrey Brisson who returns to the Watermill after her critically acclaimed performance in Amélie, charts The Little Sparrow’s dramatic rise from the squalor of the streets of Paris to the glamour of international stardom.

Piaf intertwines the great loves, losses and questionable decisions of this complex and fragile star with her raw, spellbinding songs, performed live by an ensemble cast of actor-musicians.

Still revered as an icon, decades after her untimely death, be enchanted by this fascinating talent who lived a life of no regrets.

Audrey Brisson was born to play this part

The Times 

A Fascinating revival. Raw, brave and utterly compelling

The Stage 

Feels completely immersive, as if we are in the presence of the French Songstress herself

WhatsOnStage

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Cast & Creative Team

Cast

Creatives

  • Kimberley SykesDirector
  • Good TeethSet & Costume Designer
  • Sam KenyonMusical Supervisor
  • Prema MehtaLighting Designer
  • Andy GrahamSound Designer
  • Michela MeazzaMovement Director and Intimacy Co-ordinator
  • Dani McCallumFight Director
  • Pierre FlasseAssistant Sound Designer

Inside the Piaf rehearsal room

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Production photos

  • Two ladies sit facing each other on a chaise lounge, with a bottle of wine in one's hand. They look happy and relaxed.
  • One woman stands behind another sat on a chaise lounge. She is rubbing her shoulders tentatively, while the other looks into the distance grasping a bottle of alcohol.

Image gallery

Rehearsal photos

  • Signe Larsson holding suitcase and cluthcing Audrey Brisson's hand.
  • Tzarina Nassor standing in the rehearsal room with an acoustic guitar.
  • Sam Pay standing over Audrey Brisson with his arm resting on her shoulder.
  • Audrey Brisson standing in front of the Piaf cast holding her arm aloft. The rest of the cast are playing a variety of instruments including a clarinet, saxophone, and acoustic guitar.
  • The cast of Piaf performing a song from the show.
  • Marc Serratosa pointing at Audrey Brisson as they both sing to each other.
  • Marc Serratosa kneeling before Audrey Brisson and holding a bunch of colourful flowers.
  • Kit Kenneth wearing a black hoodie and baseball cap playing the violin.
  • Jon Trenchard wearing a blue hoodie with an accordion.
  • Hazel Monaghan and Tzarina Nassor standing together playing the acoustic guitar.
  • Djavan van de Fliert sitting down in the rehearsal room.
  • Audrey Brisson wearing a blue and white striped shirt and smiling in the rehearsal room.
  • Audrey Brisson wearing a black jumper, looking up at Oliver Nazareth Aston who is playing an accordion.
  • Audrey Brisson in the Piaf rehearsal room wearing a black jumper and smiling.
  • Audrey Brisson holding script and gesturing with her arm towards Hazel Monaghan.
  • Audrey Brisson sat behind a black music stand talking to Djavan van de Fliert
Access Performances

Watch our Spring 2025 season trailer

The Team

Contact list of staff members

  • Colin Johnson

    Role
    Audio Description

  • Min Gilby

    Role
    Captioning
Prices
from £22.50 Offers & Concessions
Duration
2 hours 20 mins
Venue
Theatre
Age Guidance
Most suitable for ages 14+
Additional info

Very strong language throughout, alcohol and drug abuse and adult themes including scenes of a sexual nature. Haze, flashing lights, smoke, and latex balloons are used in this production.

Dates and times

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