Cast announced for High Society at the Barbican Theatre
L-R Felicity Kendal, Freddie Fox, Helen George, Julian Ovenden and Carly Mercedes Dyer. Photo by Dan Kennedy
A new production of “Cole Porter’s musical masterpiece” (Heart FM) will head to the Barbican Theatre for a limited run this summer, opening on 19 May.
Starring alongside Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I) and Felicity Kendal (The Good Life, Anything Goes) are Freddie Fox (Slow Horses, House of the Dragon) as the charismatic and unpredictable Mike Connor, Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, Bridgerton) as the suave sophisticated Dexter Haven, Carly Mercedes Dyer (Singin’ in the Rain, Royal Exchange Manchester) as the sharp-witted Liz and Nigel Lindsay (Mobland, The Capture) as Uncle Willie and Malcolm Sinclair (Pie in the Sky) as Seth Lord.
They are joined by Nigel Lindsay, who also returns to the Barbican for his second Cole Porter summer season, alongside acclaimed actor Malcolm Sinclair. Completing the cast are Naomi Pacquette, David Seadon-Young, James Hume, Bethany Adamson, David Austin-Barnes, Jabari Braham, George Bray, Andrew Coshan, Jordan Crouch, Frances Dee, Aaron Elijah, Tosca Fischer, Jacob Fisher, Heather Jackson, Aoife Kenny, Nell Martin, Isabel Snaas, Thomas Inge, Robin Kent, Imogen Bailey, and Lucy Rice.
In High Society, plans for the wedding of the year unravel into chaos as old flames resurface, new romances spark, and a relentless tabloid reporter lurks at the waterfront estate in search of scandal. Featuring Porter classics such as “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, “I Love Paris, Well Did You Evah?”, “Just One Of Those Things”, and the swooningly romantic “True Love”, High Society is the unmissable musical event of the year.
Rachel Kavanaugh (Shadowlands, Aldwych Theatre) will direct the production, alongside choreographer Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia, Kiss Me, Kate), and with musical supervision by Stephen Ridley (The King and I, Anything Goes), who leads a full orchestra.
High Society will play at the Barbican Theatre from 19 May - 11 July 2026. Tickets are on sale at highsocietymusical.com.
