Rob Houchen
{{Short description|British stage actor}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = United Kingdom
| alma_mater = Guildford School of Acting
| occupation = Actor, Producer
| years_active = 2013–present
}}
Rob Houchen (born 10 February 1991){{Cite web |last=Limited |first=London Theatre Direct |title=Rob Houchen {{!}} West End Performers |url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/actor/rob-houchen |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=London Theatre Direct |language=en}} is a British stage actor and producer. He is best known for playing Marius in Les Misérables in both its 30th Anniversary international production as well as at the Queen's Theatre and Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall.
Early life and education
Houchen is from Lowestoft, Suffolk. He attended Pakefield Primary and Middle schools, Kirkley High School and East Norfolk Sixth Form College.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/22913694.lowestoft-actor-rob-houchen-running-top-west-end-award/|title=Lowestoft actor, Rob Houchen, in the running for top West End award|work=Lowestoft Journal|first=Mark|last=Boggis|date=5 November 2015|accessdate=4 February 2025}} He trained at the Guildford School of Acting in London, graduating with a BA hons in musical theatre.
Career
= Stage =
Houchen started his career onstage in 2013 in the musical Les Misérables as Marius Pontmercy.
In 2019 Houchen was part of the London premiere of the musical The Light in the Piazza in the role of Fabrizio. The show starred Dove Cameron as Clara and Renée Fleming as Margaret.{{Cite web |title=The Light In The Piazza Tickets {{!}} Starring Dove Cameron {{!}} London, UK |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/14716-the-light-in-the-piazza-tickets |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Omaweng |first=Chris |date=2019-06-18 |title=The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall {{!}} Review |url=https://www.londontheatre1.com/reviews/the-light-in-the-piazza-at-the-royal-festival-hall-review/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=LondonTheatre1 |language=en-GB}} The show transferred to the LA Opera in October of the same year with the same principal cast, including Houchen.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-14 |title=Review: Renée Fleming brings radiant star power to a flickering 'Light in the Piazza' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-10-14/la-opera-renee-fleming-light-piazza-review |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
He then reprised the role of Marius in the staged concert version of Les Misérables at the Gielgud Theatre in August 2019.
In 2020 Houchen joined the cast of the Donmar Warehouse production of City of Angels, after its transfer to the Garrick Theatre. The show, starring Vanessa Williams, opened in early March 2020 and closed shortly after due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-07 |title=City of Angels in the West End: first look at Nicola Roberts, Hadley Fraser, Theo James, Rosalie Craig, Vanessa Williams and more |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/city-of-angels-in-the-west-end-first-look-at-nicola-roberts-hadley-fraser-theo-james-rosalie-craig-vanessa-williams-and-more_50885/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |language=en-US}}
In May 2022 Houchen was part of the cast of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends: A Celebration.{{Cite web |title=Live Recording of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, With Bernadette Peters and More, Sets Release Date |url=https://playbill.com/article/live-recording-of-stephen-sondheims-old-friends-with-bernadette-peters-and-more-sets-release-date |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240911205634/https://playbill.com/article/live-recording-of-stephen-sondheims-old-friends-with-bernadette-peters-and-more-sets-release-date |archive-date=2024-09-11 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Playbill |language=en-US}} The gala concert was a celebration of the famous composer, who passed the year before, and was staged by Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman. The show was recorded live on 3 May 2022 and included stage stars like Michael Ball, Judi Dench, Bernadette Peters and Jenna Russell.{{Cite web |last=Bamigboye |first=Baz |date=2022-05-02 |title=Exclusive Curtain-Raiser: Cameron Mackintosh, Judi Dench & ‘Old Friends’ Prepare To Celebrate Musical Genius Stephen Sondheim |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/exclusive-curtain-raiser-as-cameron-mackintoshjudi-dench-and-old-friends-prepare-to-celebrate-musical-geniusstephen-sondheim-1235014534/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Houchen played Lieutenant Joseph Cable in the 2022 Chichester Festival Theatre production of South Pacific, at the Manchester Opera House, Sadler's Wells and UK tour.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-16 |title=South Pacific announces complete casting |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/south-pacific-announces-complete-casting_56730/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |language=en-US}} The cast also included Julian Ovenden as Emile de Becque, Gina Beck as Ensign Nellie Forbush and Joanna Ampil as Bloody Mary.
Houchen joined the cast of the musical Titanique in December 2024 for its West End premiere as Jack. The show played at the Criterion Theatre with a cast including Lauren Drew as Celine Dion, Darren Bennett as Victor Garber/Luigi, Jordan Luke Gage as Cal, Stephen Guarino as Ruth and Kat Ronney as Rose.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Titanique in the West End – first look at rehearsals |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/titanique-in-the-west-end-first-look-at-rehearsals_1654705/#:~:text=Set%20to%20star%20in%20the,nominee%20Rob%20Houchen%20as%20Jack |access-date=2024-12-30 |language=en-US}}
In 2025, Houchen joined the studio recording cast of Jo, the Little Women Musical as Laurie. The album is due to be released in 2025 and a semi-staged version of the show is also due to be announced.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-03 |title=Jo – The Little Women Musical sets cast recording release date and reveals further details |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/jo-the-little-women-musical-sets-cast-recording-release-date-and-reveals-further-details_1672302/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |language=en-US}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Theatre |
| 2013
|Marius Pontmercy |Queen's Theatre and International tour |
| 2018
|Eugene |
| 2019
|Fabrizio Los Angeles Opera |
| 2019
|Les Misérables in Concert |Marius Pontmercy |
| 2020
|Jimmy Powers and Dr Mandril |
| 2022
|Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends: A Celebration |Himself |
| 2022
|Lieutenant Joseph Cable Sadler's Wells and UK tour |
| 2024-2025
|Jack |
= Producer =
Houchen is also known as a theatre producer and is the founder of Chorus Productions. In October 2024 he supported a charity concert of the musical I Am Harvey Milk at Cadogan Hall, based on the life of the queer politician, with profits going to Stonewall.{{Cite web |last=Houchen |first=Rob |date=2024-09-28 |title=I Am Harvey Milk: Producer Rob Houchen on new London production |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/i-am-harvey-milk-producer-rob-houchen-on-new-london-production-473697/#:~:text=Rob%20Houcen%20is%20a%20founder,The%20Light%20in%20the%20Piazza. |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Attitude |language=en-GB}}