Laura Pitt-Pulford, Lauryn Redding, Mel Lowe, Sharlene Hector, Elizabeth Ayodele, Samuel Jordan, Rachael Wooding and Joel Harper-Jackson have been cast in the West End transfer of Standing at the Sky’s Edge. Picture: Steve Gullick
A mixture of newcomers and returning actors will feature in the cast for the West End transfer of the double Olivier Award-winning Sheffield Theatres production of Standing at the Sky’s Edge.
Presented by the National Theatre and Various Productions, the winner of the 2023 Olivier Awards for Best New Musical and Best Original Score and New Orchestrations, is due to begin performances at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 8 February 2024 ahead of a press night on 28 February 2024.
Described as a love letter to Sheffield, the musical was a hit with critics and audiences when it made its sold-out debut in Sheffield in 2019. First commissioned by Sheffield Theatres and Various Productions, the musical combines new and classic songs by award-winning singer/songwriter Richard Hawley inspired by the people of his home city of Sheffield.
The show, featuring a book by playwright Chris Bush, follows the fortunes of three families through 60 turbulent years in the high-rise Park Hill area of the city.
New cast members will include Elizabeth Ayodele (Small Island, National Theatre) as Joy, Joel Harper-Jackson (Kinky Boots, UK tour) as Harry, Sharlene Hector (A Strange Loop, National Theatre) as Grace, Mel Lowe (Orlando, Garrick Theatre) as Connie, Laura Pitt-Pulford (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Poppy and Lauryn Redding (Bloody Elle, Royal Exchange) as Nikki.
Returning to reprise their roles are: Samuel Jordan (Masters of the Air, Apple TV) as Jimmy, Baker Mukasa (The Comedy of Errors, Royal Shakespeare Company) as George, Alastair Natkiel (Line of Duty, BBC) as Marcus and Rachael Wooding (Pretty Woman: The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre) as Rose. Further casting will be announced at a later date.
Commenting on the cast, director Robert Hastie said: “I’m thrilled that many of the company who created Standing at the Sky’s Edge in Sheffield and at the National Theatre are continuing to tell this important story in the West End, and equally excited that a brilliant new group of actors are joining the cast to bring new perspectives and fresh takes on Chris’ characters and Richard’s songs.
“Getting the casting right is central to any show’s success, but with this show it feels particularly crucial. The characters in this show might be fictional, but they represent real people’s lives, so the actors who embody these roles need to take pride in telling these beautiful human stories, and I’m confident that this incredible cast will do exactly that.”
The musical returned to the Crucible Theatre in December 2022, selling out again, before making its London debut earlier this year in the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre where it also played to sold-out houses.
Directed by Sheffield Theatres’ artistic director Hastie, the production’s creative team also includes set and costume designer Ben Stones, choreographer Lynne Page, music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator Tom Deering, lighting designer Mark Henderson, sound designer Bobby Aitken and wigs, hair and make-up designer Cynthia De La Rosa.
Standing at the Sky’s Edge is currently nominated in the Best Musical category of the 2023 Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The musical has also already won the Best Musical Production award at the UK Theatre Awards in 2019 and the 2020 South Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre.
Angela Thomas
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