Getting Re-Q-united With Some Old Friends!
Avenue Q Full Company. Photo: Danny Kaan
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic
Twenty years after it first opened in the West End, Avenue Q is back to win over a whole new generation of theatre fans. Since its successful London run finished in 2010 it’s been released for amateur productions for companies across the UK brave enough to take on a new category of triple threat – singing, acting and puppets! And one of its writing team, Robert Lopez, was also a co-writer on The Book of Mormon, another huge hit on Broadway and in the West End.
The OG London cast of Avenue Q reunited back in 2024 for a concert version – bringing together a company that, it’s safe to say, has gone on to make quite the impact on the UK theatre scene, with a bunch of awards and nominations between them. Currently/recently appearing in London theatres we have Jon Robyns (Matilda), Simon Lipkin (Oliver!), Giles Terera (Oh, Mary!), Clare Foster (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Julie Atherton (Just For One Day).
So, the bar is set high for the new residents on the block (no pressure) and it’s an exciting line-up as our new 2026 cast includes a great mix of rising stars and principal debuts. I went along to The Box nightclub in Soho to find out all about Avenue Q’s return to the West End
This very special event saw the gang hunting down the iconic Lucy the Slut (Emily Benjamin, who also plays Kate Monster). Lucy has turned down the invitation to join the cast in the West End and is now headlining in Soho venue The Box. Can Trekkie Monster (Charlie McCullagh) Rod (Noah Harrison) and the rest of the team persuade her to change her mind?
We were treated to Lucy’s signature song, “I Can Make You Feel Special” in a performance that not only showed off Emily’s talent, but also showed us that Lucy’s had a glow-up – she’s got legs now and she knows how to use them! After a bit of persuasion from the Bad Idea Bears, of course Lucy’s back on board – YAYYYYY!!!!
The performance finished with a rendition from the full cast of “For Now” (which always brings a tear to my eye!), and then OG West End Kate Monster turned Associate Director, Julie Atherton, introduced Director Jason Moore to give us an insight into this new production, 20 years on from its London debut.
Jason explained why he believes Avenue Q was the right musical to revive “for now”:
“Avenue Q came out at a time when there was no social media, so there’s no real record of the show. And I realised there was a whole generation of people that had never seen it before. So it seemed a good time to revisit the themes. We realised when we looked at it again that people are always figuring out their purpose, young people are trying to figure out their place in life and its meaning so let’s revisit it!”
It’s always been a great hit with British audiences. On British humour, he added:
“There’s a sensibility about comedy over here that you guys get and Americans don’t. You can say something innocently, but it will have a real bite to it underneath. There’s a real comedy match here!”
And talking about potentially updating the show for 2026:
“So, if you know and love the show you’ll recognise it but we are revisiting some things. It started Off Broadway and it’s been the same production throughout the world ever since, so now’s the chance to put some surprises into it and a few little updates so it takes place a little more now. It’s subtle but it’s souped up and I think it’s going to be really fun”.
Finally, why should people book to see Avenue Q? Jason summed it up perfectly:
“It’s a universal theme, everyone is looking for their purpose in life. It’s funny and has joy and isn’t that just what we want to buy a ticket to go see? Joy and puppets, they take us back to pure hope and innocence. And that’s a good thing right now. Avenue Q gives you the feels, gives you the cries and will make you laugh for sure!”
Avenue Q is officially BACK and I can’t wait to visit the gang in their new home at the Shaftesbury Theatre. At today’s press event, the cast took maybe a little too much delight in singing that “JOURNALISM” is only for now (rude!) but I can’t wait to find out exactly who or what makes the cut for the show’s 2026 run!
We all know that the internet is really really great for, well, many things, but I suggest you double click on that ticket booking link right now!
Avenue Q runs at the Shaftesbury Theatre from Friday 20th March until Saturday 29th August 2026. Find out more and book here.
