Five questions with Alice Fearn of 'Kimberly Akimbo'

Celebrated for performances in Wicked and Come From Away, the West End star takes on a hilarious new role in Kimberly Akimbo.

Summary

• Alice Fearn has starred in big West End musicals like Wicked and Come From Away
• Now she stars in Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire's musical Kimberly Akimbo
• She plays opposite Maria Friedman

Alice Fearn is an experienced West End performer, with credits in Wicked, Come From Away, Les Misérables, The Woman in White, and more. Now she is playing eccentric Aunt Debra in Kimberly Akimbo, opposite Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman.

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What can you tell us about Kimberly Akimbo?
Kimberly Akimbo is a hilarious, moving musical about a teenage girl named Kimberly Levaco, who has a rare genetic condition that makes her body age much faster than normal. We start the show before her 16th birthday and follow her and her dysfunctional family as they navigate the time Kimberly has left.

Why do you think this story has connected so strongly with audiences?
It is remarkably funny yet moving. Underneath the comedy, it’s about growing up, friendship, mortality, and making the most of the time you have. We have limited time on this earth and the show reminds us of the importance of using that time. I think everyone can connect with something here.

Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire have written some incredible shows. What makes their writing so special?
They’ve been in the room during rehearsals and I’ve witnessed their special friendship. They find each other funny and understand how the other works. That is why they have been so successful. They want to tell stories the same way and respect what the other brings.

What is the most fun thing about playing Debra, Kimberly’s aunt?
She’s crazy and says exactly what she thinks. It’s thrilling to play a character that barrels in and is unapologetic. She has her faults but she’s fun, engaging, and sparky – a character that is often rare to find as we get older.

What are you learning from working with the great Maria Friedman?
I remember seeing Maria in The Woman in White at the Palace Theatre in 2005. It was my first job and I was about to join the second cast. Maria was leaving at cast change but I remember her vividly. Her energy and charisma were undeniable. Seeing how she has stepped back into the spotlight is inspiring. She’s funny, hardworking, kind, and scatty as hell. Yesterday she couldn’t find a travel mug at home for her coffee so she brought it in a jam jar instead. She’s utterly adorable and audiences will no doubt agree with me.

Book Kimberly Akimbo tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

This article first appeared in the October 2026 issue of London Theatre Magazine.

Photo credit: Alice Fearn. (Photo by Jeannie Scott). Inset: in Kimberly Akimbo