Mark Bautista is one of the lead actors of the coming West End staging of the musical, “Here Lies Love.”
The singer-actor will portray the role of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the musical about the rise and fall of First Lady Imelda Marcos. Filipino-Australian actress Natalie Mendoza plays Imelda, while British performer Dean John-Wilson is cast as Marcos’ political rival, the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino.
Bautista said he expected the mixed reactions and discouraging feedback he received because of the controversial role he is playing. He said the production could be the most physically-demanding for him yet.
Created by David Byrne of the new wave band Talking Heads and DJ-record producer Norman “Fatboy Slim” Cook, the West End production runs from Sept. 30 to Jan. 8 at the Dorfman Theatre, housed in The Royal National Theatre complex.
