Everything you need to know about 'The Outsiders' in London

The Tony-winning musical about gang culture in 1960s Oklahoma is set to receive its London premiere.

Summary

• The Outsiders is due to make its West End debut in the near future
• The show debuted on Broadway in 2024 where it continues to play
• The production won four Tony Awards including Best Musical

It’s early days, but a London transfer of Broadway hit The Outsiders has been confirmed – excellent news for musical theatre fans and lovers of American-inspired music. The musical features a score by the folk-rock duo Jefferson Revival, and a book by Adam Rapp and Justin Levine.

While not hugely well known in the UK, S. E. Hinton’s original novel is considered a modern American classic and a landmark in young adult fiction, and the 1983 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola is a cult favourite. The musical, which was first performed in San Diego in 2023, premiered on Broadway in 2024 where it continues to run. The show won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and showcases a host of young talent among its cast.

While several details about The Outsiders’ West End transfer are to be confirmed, read on to learn more about this exciting and emotive show.

Check back for The Outsiders tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

What is The Outsiders about?

The Outsiders in set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967 and deals with two rival gangs, the working-class Greasers and the middle-class Socs. The orphaned 14-year-old protagonist Ponyboy Curtis is the youngest of three brothers: the eldest, Darrel, is a former high school football star now taking on a parental role, and the middle sibling, Sodapop, is nursing a broken heart. The brothers and their friends seem set for a dead-end future, but Ponyboy can’t let go of his dreams.

What is the source material of The Outsiders?

The Outsiders is based on a coming-of-age novel by (Susan Eloise) S. E. Hinton, which she wrote as a high school student and had published in 1967 when she was 18. The novel was controversial due to its depictions of gang violence, dysfunctional families, underage smoking and drinking, and use of strong language. Nevertheless, it is frequently taught on US high school curriculums.

The book inspired the 1983 film of the same name directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film was led by C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy Curtis, and featured Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, and Leif Garrett, many of whom were among the young actors associated with the “Brat Pack”, who starred in coming-of-age films in the 1980s. The film briefly spawned a spinoff TV series (with a different cast).

Who wrote The Outsiders?

The musical adaptation of The Outsiders features music and lyrics by Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance of the folk-rock band Jamestown Revival. The duo, who hail from Magnolia, Texas, began collaborating as teenagers and formed Jamestown Revival in 2010. They are known for their songs that tell stories about everyday life, with country, Americana, and rock influences.

The show features a book by Adam Rapp and Justin Levine. Rapp is a playwright, novelist, screenwriter, and director who was nominated for Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Red Light Winter (2006) and Tony-nominated for The Sound Inside (2020). Levine, who also contributed to the score, is known for his musical supervisions, arrangements, and Tony-nominated orchestrations for Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

What is the production history of The Outsiders?

The Outsiders was first announced in 2019 but was delayed for several years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The musical was first performed in February 2023 at the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego. The show made its Broadway debut the following year, opening on 11 April 2024. The original Broadway cast recording was released in May 2024. The production continues to play at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and it recouped its investment in December 2025. A US national tour launched in September 2025.

What awards has The Outsiders won?

The Outsiders received 12 nominations at the 2024 Tony Awards and won four gongs: Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Danya Taymor), Best Lighting Design in a Musical (Hana S. Kim and Brian MacDevitt), and Best Sound Design in a Musical (Cody Spencer). Brody Grant was nominated for Best Actor as a Musical for his performance as Ponyboy and Joshua Boone and Sky Lakota-Lynch earned nods for their supporting performances as Johnny and Dallas respectively.

Where is The Outsiders being performed?

The venue for the West End production of The Outsiders is to be confirmed. The Broadway production plays at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, which has a capacity of around 1,050 seats.

When is The Outsiders being performed?

Dates for the West End production of The Outsiders are to be confirmed.

How long is The Outsiders?

The Broadway production of The Outsiders runs at 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Who is in the cast of The Outsiders?

The cast for the West End production of The Outsiders is to be confirmed. It’s a show that offers numerous opportunities for young performers, so it’s sure to showcase some exciting new talent. The show marked the Broadway debuts of many of the cast.

Who is in The Outsiders creative team?

The show is directed by Danya Taymor, who has won Tonys for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Direction of a Play for The Outsiders and John Proctor Is the Villain respectively. Her current project is the US premiere of Australian writer Emmanuelle Mattana’s play Trophy Boys at the Off-Broadway MCC Theatre.

The show is choreographed by Rick and Jeff Kuperman (Alice By Heart) and features Tony-winning lighting design by Hana S. Kim and Brian MacDevitt, and sound by Cody Spencer. Set design is by AMP Scenography featuring Tatiana Kahvegian.

Who are the characters in The Outsiders?

The Outsiders features the following cast of teenage characters:

Ponyboy Curtis: the protagonist, a sensitive young man from a poor family. He is torn between loyalty to his gang and aspiring towards a better life.

Johnny Cade: Ponyboy’s best friend and fellow member of the Greasers.

Sodapop Curtis: the middle Curtis sibling and Ponyboy’s ally.

Darrell Curtis: the eldest Curtis brother, forced to step into a paternal role.

Dallas Winston: a senior Greaser who watches out for Ponyboy and Johnny.

Cherry Vallance: a middle-class girl who befriends Ponyboy.

Bob: an arrogant Soc and Cherry’s boyfriend.

What songs are in The Outsiders?

The score of The Outsiders features the following songs:

Act I

"Tulsa '67" - Ponyboy, Johnny, Company

"Grease Got a Hold" - Dallas, Sodapop, Two-Bit, Darrel, Greasers

"Runs in the Family" - Darrel

"Great Expectations" - Ponyboy, Company

"Friday at the Drive-In" - Cherry, Bob, Ensemble

"I Could Talk to You All Night" - Cherry, Ponyboy

"Runs in the Family (Reprise)" - Darrel

"Far Away from Tulsa" - Ponyboy, Johnny, Ensemble

"Run Run Brother" - Dallas, Ponyboy, Johnny, Company

Act II

"Justice for Tulsa" - Cop, Dallas, Cherry, Paul, Ensemble

"Death's at My Door" - Ponyboy, Johnny

"Throwing in the Towel" - Darrel, Sodapop, Ponyboy

"Soda's Letter" - Sodapop, Ponyboy, Darrel

"Hoods Turned Heroes" - Two-Bit, Sodapop, Greasers

"Hopeless War" - Cherry, Ponyboy

"Trouble" - Dallas, Greasers, Socs

"Little Brother" - Dallas, Company

"Stay Gold" - Johnny, Ponyboy

"Tulsa '67 (Reprise)" - Ponyboy, Company

What are some fun facts about The Outsiders?

• S. E. Hinton’s novel has been adapted for the stage before, in the form of a play that premiered in Chicago in 1990 and has been performed regionally on numerous occasions. The adaptation was by Christoper Sergel, who also penned versions of To Kill a Mockingbird and Winesburg, Ohio.

• Hinton wrote four more young adult novels set in the same “universe” as The Outsiders. She also had a cameo in the film version as a nurse.

• Angelina Jolie and LaChanze are among the producers of the musical.

• The climactic rumble scene, which takes place during a storm, requires 100 gallons of water at each performance.

Check back for The Outsiders tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: The Outsiders on Broadway (Photo by Matthew Murphy)