Hide all children—The Witches have convened on London's National Theatre for their annual convention, and the Grand High Witch is keen to smell a rat—or worse. Get a first look at the world premiere stage musical adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel, featuring a score by The Great Comet writer Dave Malloy, with newly released production shots below. The musical is playing the U.K. company through January 27, 2024.
Directed by Lyndsey Turner (The Crucible) and featuring a book and lyrics by Olivier winner Lucy Kirkwood (Mosquitoes), the cast is led by Olivier nominee Katherine Kingsley (The Larkins) as the Grand High Witch, BAFTA winner Daniel Rigby (Accidental Death of an Anarchist) as hotel manager Mr. Stringer, and Sally Ann Triplett (Oklahoma!) as Gran.
The cast includes a witch ensemble comprising Julie Armstrong, Chrissie Bhima, Zoe Birkett, Maddison Bulleyment, Miracle Chance, Daniele Coombe, Molly-May Gardiner, Tiffany Graves, Bobbie Little, Tania Mathurin, Amira Matthews, and Alexandra Waite-Roberts.
William Skinner, Maggie Service, and Ekow Quartey in The Witches
William Skinner in The Witches
William Skinner and Vishal Soni in The Witches
William Skinner and company of The Witches
Vishal Soni, Sally Ann Triplett, and Daniel Rigby in The Witches
Vishal Soni and company of The Witches
Company of The Witches
Sally Ann Triplett and Vishal Soni in The Witches
Sally Ann Triplett and Vishal Soni in The Witches
Richard David Caine, Vishal Soni, and Laura Medforth in The Witches
Laura Medforth, Vishal Soni, and Richard David Caine in The Witches
Laura Medforth, Vishal Soni, and Richard David Caine in The Witches
Jack Philpott, Asanda Abbie Masike, and Jemima Loosen in The Witches
Get a 1st Listen to 'Get Up!' From Dave Malloy Musical The Witches
The production also features Laura Medforth as Mum, Richard David-Caine as Dad, Ekow Quartey as Mr. Jenkins, Maggie Service as Mrs. Jenkins, and Irvine Iqbal as Chef Chevalier at Hotel Magnificent. Completing the team at Hotel Magnificent are Adrian Grove, Jacob Maynard, and Ben Redfern.
Among the young cast are Bertie Caplan, Frankie Keita, and Vishal Soni playing the hero Luke; Cian Eagle-Service, George Menezes Cutts, and William Skinner playing Bruno; and Jersey Blu Georgia, Asanda Abbie Masike, and Chloe Raphael playing Helga.
Completing the young ensemble are Nesim Adnan, Alaia Broadbent, Chenai Broadbent, Cristian Buttaci, Sekhani Dumezweni, Rudy Gibson, Florence Gore, Elara Jagger, Annabelle Jones, Jemima Loosen, Charlie Man-Evans, Iesa Miller, Jack Philpott, Sienna Sibley, Savannah Skinner-Henry, Poppy-Mei Soon, Benjamin Spalding, Dylan Trigger, Alice Valeriano, Sasha Watson-Lobo, and Stella Yeoman.
The story—adapted from Dahl's 1983 novel—follows Luke and his Gran, who come to a gathering of all the witches in England, determined to rid the world of children by transforming them into mice. The book has previously been adapted for the screen twice, in 1990 and 2020.
The creative team also include set and costume designer Lizzie Clachan, choreographer Stephen Mear, music supervisor Nigel Lilley, music director Cat Beveridge, lighting designer Bruno Poet, co-sound designers Alexander Caplen and Ian Dickinson, video designer Ash J Woodward, illusions designers Chris Fisher and Will Houstoun, casting director Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, associate director Séimí Campbell, staff director Priya Patel Appleby, associate set designer Shankho Chaudhuri, associate costume designer Johanna Coe, associate wigs, hair, and makeup designer Kim Kasim, associate choreographer Ebony Molina, associate music director Natalie Pound, and children’s and assistant music director Sarah Morrison.
Visit NationalTheatre.org.uk.
