Picture: Michael Wharley
Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts will join the acclaimed West End production of American folk singer Anaïs Mitchell’s record-breaking Hadestown next month.
From 16 September 2025 until 16 January 2026, the award-winning singer will step into the role of Persephone at London’s Lyric Theatre alongside Desmonda Cathabel as Eurydice, Chris Jarman as Hades, Cedric Neal as Hermes and Dylan Wood as Orpheus with Melanie Bright, Allie Daniel and Lauran Rae as the Fates; Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Ollie Bingham, Laura Delany and Sebastian Lim-Seet as the Workers; and Lucinda Buckley, Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda and Jasmine Triadi as Swings.
Commenting on her latest role, Roberts, who made her West End debut in 2020 in City of Angels at the Garrick Theatre, said: “I am beyond thrilled to be joining the cast of Hadestown in London. This show is a true masterpiece, and I am honoured 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!”
Based on Mitchell’s original concept album, the singer-songwriter’s version of the Greek myth of Orpheus journey into the Underworld to rescue his love Eurydice, the musical made its debut at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2016, followed by an equally successful run in Edmonton, Canada. The musical then played a sold-out run at the National Theatre in London in 2018.
After further development, Hadestown premiered at Broadway’s Walter Kerr Theater in 2019, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. It now holds the record for the highest-grossing musical and longest-running show in the theatre’s 100-year history. It is also currently among the top 50 longest-running shows in Broadway history (and still moving up the list).
Mixing modern American folk music with vintage New Orleans jazz, the genre-defying musical features choreography by David Neumann, set design by Rachel Hauck, costume design by Michael Krass, lighting design by Bradley King, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, musical supervision and arrangements by Liam Robinson, arrangements and orchestrations by Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose and dramaturgy by Ken Cerniglia, with Maria Crocker as UK associate director and Tarek Merchant as musical director. Casting for the London production is by Jacob Sparrow.
Angela Thomas
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