Girls Aloud Star Nicola Roberts to Join West End Hadestown

Nicola Roberts, from the BRIT Award-winning group Girls Aloud, will join the West End production of Hadestown this fall at the Lyric Theatre.

Roberts, who won the inaugural season of ITV's The Masked Singer as Queen Bee, will step into the role of Persephone September 16, 2025–January 18, 2026. The performer previously made her West End debut in Josie Rourke’s Olivier–winning revival of City of Angels at the Garrick Theatre.

"I am beyond thrilled to be joining the cast of Hadestown in London," Roberts said in a statement. "This show is a true masterpiece, and I am honored to be a part of such a talented and inspiring team. The role of Persephone has such depth and complexity, she feels light and sorrow, joy and darkness. Her songs are rich with emotion and an absolute joy to sing, and I’m excited to explore every facet of her character on stage. I am grateful for this incredible opportunity, and I can't wait to share this journey with audiences in London. Let's take a trip to the underworld together!"

Roberts, who will succeed Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, will join a cast that includes Desmonda Cathabel as Eurydice, Chris Jarman as Hades, Cedric Neal as Hermes, and Dylan Wood as Orpheus. Melanie Bright, Allie Daniel, and Lauran Rae play the Fates; Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Ollie Bingham, Laura Delany, and Sebastian Lim-Seet play the Workers, with Lucinda Buckley, Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda, and Jasmine Triadi as swings.

Roberts rose to prominence in 2002 as a member of Girls Aloud, formed on ITV’s Popstars: The Rivals. The group went on to achieve a record-breaking run of 20 consecutive U.K. Top 10 singles, including four number ones. Following the group’s hiatus in 2013, Roberts released her debut solo album, Cinderella’s Eyes, before going on to enjoy success as a songwriter for other artists.

The London return of the Tony-winning musical Hadestown officially opened at the Lyric February 21, 2024.

Anaïs Mitchell's underworld-set folk opera, which premiered Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in 2016, made its London premiere at the National Theatre in November 2018. The production subsequently opened on Broadway, where it continues at the Walter Kerr, in April 2019. Read reviews of the current London production by clicking here.

The creative team features set designer Rachel Hauck, costume designer Michael Krass, lighting designer Bradley King, sound designers Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, choreographer David Neumann, music supervisor and vocal arranger Liam Robinson, arrangers and orchestrators Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia. Casting for the London production is by Jacob Sparrow.

Following two intertwining love stories—that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone—Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.

The show, featuring a book and score by Mitchell, won eight 2019 Tony Awards: Best Director of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (André De Shields), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Bradley King), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rachel Hauck), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Jessica Paz and Nevin Steinberg), Best Orchestrations (Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose), Best Original Score (Mitchell), and Best Musical.

Hadestown is produced in London by Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, Tom Kirdahy, and the National Theatre in association with JAS Theatricals.

Check out the Hadestown merchandise in the Playbill Store

The Broadway production continues at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Visit UK.Hadestown.com.