Initial casting for West End transfer of Into the Woods announced

The initial casting for the West End transfer of the multi-award-winning production Into the Woods, which was staged recently at the Bridge Theatre, has been released. Sondheim and Lapine’s iconic production marks the first West End transfer for The Bridge Theatre and the first time Into The Woods has been in the West End since 1991.

Jordan Fein’s production will star Kate Fleetwood (My Master Builder, Wyndham’s Theatre) as The Witch, Valda Aviks (The Addams Family, UK Tour) as Grandmother/Giant, Geoffrey Aymer (Hamlet, Chichester Festival Theatre) as Cinderella’s Father, Jo Foster (Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre) as Jack, Jennifer Hepburn (The Buccaneer, Finborough Theatre) as Cinderella’s Stepmother and Alternate Witch, Hana Ichijo (The Baker’s Wife, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Lucinda, Julie Jupp (A Christmas Carol, The OId Vic) as Jack’s Mother, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (Dorian: The Musical, Southwark Playhouse) as Florinda and Gracie McGonigal (Fangirls, Lyric Hammersmith) as Red Ridinghood, with Jacob Fowler (Heathers the Musical, UK Tour & The Other Palace) and Sophie Linder-Lee (Muriel’s Wedding, Curve) as Standbys. Full casting to be announced. 

The second collaboration after Sunday in the Park with George, Into The Woods weaves together four Grimm’s fairytales by delving into the consequences of characters’ wishes, the loss of innocent and the complex realities of life that happen after “happily ever after”.

On its Broadway debut in 1986, the musical won Tony Awards each for Sondheim (Best Original Score) and Lapine (Best Book). In London, it has had productions at the Phoenix Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, and, most recently, the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2010. This staging at the Noel Coward this autumn will mark the first major London production since 2016 and its first West End production in 30 years.

Into The Woods will play at the Noel Coward Theatre from 22 September to 9 January 2027.