Everything you need to know about 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'

The musical adaptation of Rachel Joyce's bestselling novel with music by Passenger comes to the West End in January 2026.

Summary

• The new musical plays at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 29 January to 18 April 2026
• Rachel Joyce adapts her bestselling novel with a score by singer-songwriter Passenger
• Mark Addy and Jenna Russell reprise the lead roles they created at Chichester Festival Theatre

If you’re mourning the closure of the enchantingly idiosyncratic The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the equally quirky and folk-inspired new musical The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, opening in the West End in January 2026, is sure to put a spring in your step. This piece is filled with heart and bittersweet optimism, as well as an enchanting and poignant score by the indie-folk singer-songwriter Passenger.

The musical strolls into the West End with its original stars Mark Addy and Jenna Russell, following an acclaimed run at Chichester Festival Theatre this summer. It’s sure to make a delightful and refreshing start to 2026 — but it's a limited run, so don't drag your heels.

Book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

What is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry about?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is about an ordinary man, the titular Mr Fry, who is living an ordinary life until he receives an unexpected letter from an old friend. He sets off from his home in Devon and keeps walking all the way to Berwick on Tweed on the Scottish border. On the way, he experiences all sorts of random acts of kindness and strangers become friends. Meanwhile, back at home, his wife Maureen embarks on her own journey that she hopes will bring her and Harold closer together. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a celebration of the human spirit, love, and fresh beginnings.

Who wrote The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is based on the 2012 bestselling novel, Booker Prize longlisted novel by Rachel Joyce (her debut). She received the New Writer of the Year award at the National Book Awards for this book. Joyce wrote the screenplay for the 2023 film adaptation starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton and has also penned the book for the musical.

The music and lyrics are by singer-songwriter Passenger (real name Michael David Rosenberg). He is perhaps best known for his 2012 Ivor Novello Award-winning single “Let Her Go” and he has released 14 studio albums. He recently released the album “One for the Road (Songs from The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry the Musical)”, featuring Jack Wolfe (who played the Balladeer in Chichester) and the Kingdom Choir.

When was The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry first performed?

The Unlike Pilgrimage of Harold Fry premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre, Sussex in May 2025. One of the most prestigious regional theatres, recent Chichester productions to transfer to London include South Pacific, Crazy for You, Oliver!, and Top Hat, which plays over Christmas at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Where is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry playing?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will be playing at Theatre Royal Haymarket, one of London’s most prestigious theatres with a capacity of around 890 seats. Recent productions to play at the venue include Till the Stars Come Down, The Deep Blue Sea, and Waiting for Godot. This winter, it will host *Othello* starring David Harewood and Toby Jones.

When is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry playing?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is booking from 29 January to 18 April 2026. Performances take place from Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm, with matinees on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm.

How long is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry runs for 2 hours 30 minutes, including an interval.

Who is in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry cast?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is led by Mark Addy as Harold and Jenna Russell as Maureen, reprising the roles they created in Chichester.

Addy was nominated for an Olivier Award for Collaborators and is known for his roles in Game of Thrones and The Full Monty (BAFTA nomination). Russell won an Olivier Award for Sunday in the Park with George (she received a Tony nomination when the production transferred to Broadway) and further credits include Merrily We Roll Along, The Bridges of Madison County, Fun Home, Flowers for Mrs Harris, and Hello, Dolly!

Noah Mullins, who recently starred as Orpheus in Hadestown in Australia, swaps roles with Jack Wolfe (who is currently performing the same part on Broadway) and will play the Balladeer.

Further casting is to be announced.

Who is in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry creative team?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is directed by Katy Rudd (Ballet Shoes, The Ocean at the End of the Lane) with design by Samuel Wyer (Ballet Shoes), choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves (The Creakers), and lighting by Paule Constable (Oliver!).

Who are the characters in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry includes the following principal characters:

• Harold Fry: the “everyman” hero who sets off on a physical and spiritual journey.
• Maureen Fry: his emotionally repressed wife.
• Balladeer: the narrator of the piece.
• Queenie Hennessy: Harold’s old friend who is dying of cancer.

The ensemble plays a whole host of roles, including humans and animals.

What are some fun facts about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry?

• Writer Rachel Joyce was an actress for 20 years and played Perdita to Jim Broadbent’s (who played Harold in the film adaptation) Leontes in The Winter’s Tale at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield in 1987.
• Joyce has written two sequels to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy and Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North.
• Other musicals about journeys and travel include Candide, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Little Miss Sunshine, Violet, and On the Twentieth Century. And a musical based on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (the most famous fictional pilgrimage of all) played in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre in 1968.
• Mark Addy can be seen in the upcoming film The Choral (written by Alan Bennett and directed by Nicholas Hytner) alongside Ralph Fiennes, who will appear in Grace Pervades at Theatre Royal Haymarket after The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’s run.

Book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Photo credit: Mark Addy and Jenna Russell in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at Chichester Festival Theatre. (Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg)