Picture: Johan Persson
Initial casting has been confirmed for the West End transfer of Jordan Fein’s multi-award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods.
As previously announced the first West End transfer for London’s Bridge Theatre will feature Kate Fleetwood (London Road, National Theatre) who will reprise her acclaimed performance as the Witch.
She will be joined by original cast members including Valda Aviks (The Addams Family Musical, original UK tour) as Grandmother/Giant, Geoffrey Aymer (The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium) as Cinderella’s Father, Jo Foster (Why Am I So Single?, Garrick Theatre) as Jack, Jennifer Hepburn (Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre) as Cinderella’s Stepmother and Alternate Witch, Hana Ichijo (The Baker’s Wife, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Lucinda, Julie Jupp (A Christmas Carol, Old Vic) as Jack’s Mother, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Florinda and Gracie McGonigal (The Little Big Things, @Soho Place) as Little Red Riding Hood with Jacob Fowler (Heathers, The Other Palace) and Sophie Linder- Lee (Wicked, Apollo Victoria) as standbys. The full cast will be announced at a later date.
The production will begin performances at the Noel Coward Theatre on 22 September ahead of an opening night on 7 October. The production is currently due to run until 9 January 2027.
Announcing the production’s West End transfer, producer Jamie Wilson said: “Sondheim and Lapine’s Into The Woods is, quite simply, a masterpiece, and Jordan (Fein) and Tom’s (Scutt) production is the perfect imaging of this very singular piece. I’m honoured to be partnering with the Bridge Theatre to bring the production to the West End, enabling a wider audience to experience their genius close up in the intimacy of the Noel Coward Theatre.”
Fein added: “It’s been both a privilege and a joy to direct this new production of Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre. To now bring this wonderful show into the West End is thrilling and will give new audiences the opportunity to experience the brilliant music and words of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.”
The Bridge’s artistic director Nicholas Hytner added: “I couldn’t be happier that this wonderful production will have a new life at the Noel Coward, and I hope that a wide new audience will be able to see it in the West End.”
The West End transfer will be presented in the West End by Jamie Wilson Productions, Kevin McCollum and New Ventures Entertainment.
Directed by Fein (Fiddler on the Roof, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) with design by Tony Award winner Tom Scutt (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, West End/Broadway) the first London production of the fairy tale-inspired musical since 2016 was nominated for 11 Olivier Awards – the joint highest tally of 2026. The show won Best Musical Revival and Aideen Malone (lighting design) and Roland Horvath (video design) received the award for Best Lighting Design.
With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Lapine, Into the Woods debuted on Broadway in 1987 with a production that went on to win three Tony Awards including a Leading Actress in a Musical Award for Joanna Gleason for her performance as the Baker’s Wife.
The original West End production in 1990 was nominated for seven Olivier Awards, winning two – the Best Actress in a Musical Award for Imelda Staunton who also played the Baker’s Wife and the Best Director of a Musical Award for Richard Jones.
Angela Thomas
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