Get to know the cast of new musical 'Pride'

Based on an incredible true story and beloved film, this new production at the National Theatre features Samuel Barnett, Courtney Stapleton, and Lewis Cornay.

Summary

• New musical Pride is coming to the National Theatre
• The show is inspired by a real story and also by the hit 2014 film
• The cast includes Lewis Cornay as Bromley and Samuel Barnett as Jonathan
• The company also features Courtney Stapleton as Steph and Caroline Sheen as Maureen

This summer sees the exciting and long-awaited arrival of Pride, the stage musical version of the hit 2014 movie. Pride is based on extraordinary real history: in 1984, during the miners’ strike, a group of friends in London formed Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, and raised thousands of pounds for a village in south Wales.

The theatrical production of Pride reunites two of its key creators, writer Stephen Beresford and director Matthew Warchus, and will also feature original music by Christopher Nightingale (A Christmas Carol, Matilda The Musical), John Cohen and DJ Walde (Sylvia, Some Like It Hip Hop).

Get to know some of the incredible cast of Pride ahead of planning your trip to see the show at the National Theatre.

Book Pride tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Samuel Barnett

Barnett plays Jonathan, the flamboyant older gay man who runs bookshop Gay’s the Word, alongside his partner Gethin, where LGSM meet. The Olivier and Tony-nominated Barnett shot to fame as part of the original cast of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, and his stage work also includes His Dark Materials, Twelfth Night, and Ben and Imo. His screen credits include Desperate Romantics, Twenty Twelve, Bright Star, and The Lady in the Van.

Lewis Cornay

Cornay plays the show’s protagonist: Joe, aka “Bromley”, a closeted and naïve student who gradually embraces his true identity after finding a community with LGSM. Cornay is a rising star whose screen work includes Doctor Who, A Bear Remembers, and John & Jen, while his stage work includes Four Play, The SpongeBob Musical, The History Boys, Whistle Down the Wind, She Loves Me, and The Book of Mormon.

Matthew Durkan

Durkan plays Mike, the gruff but intensely loyal friend of LGSM’s leader Mark Ashton, and the group’s quiet backbone. Durkan’s screen work includes Toxic Town, Outlander, Alma’s Not Normal, Daddy Issues and Creation Stories, while his theatre shows include A Christmas Carol, The Man in the White Suit, Reykjavík, The Secret Garden, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and Nell Gwynn.

Chris Jenkins

Jenkins plays Gethin, Jonathan’s devoted partner and a Welsh man who left home years ago after a painful coming out experience. His screen work includes It’s A Sin and Sanditon, while his theatre credits include Groundhog Day, Hex, Jack Absolute Flies Again, tick, tick…BOOM!, Billy Elliot: The Musical, Spamalot, War of the Worlds, The Arcadians, The Cradle Will Rock, Titanic The Musical, and Chess in Concert.

Darren Lawrence

Lawrence plays Cliff, a gentle soul who lives in the Welsh village, is a leader of the men’s union, and loves poetry. Lawrence has appeared in TV shows like The Way, Ordinary Lies, Nuts and Bolts, and Cucumber, and in theatre productions such as The Ferryman, Follies, Kiss Me, Kate, That Day We Sang, A Christmas Carol, The Passion, The Village Social, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Season’s Greeting.

Jhon Lumsden

Lumsden plays Mark, the remarkable driving force of LGSM, a fervent campaigner, charismatic speaker, and confident young gay man. Lumsden’s past work includes screen projects like Blood of My Blood, Karen Pirie, The Famous Five, Blood, Sex & Royalty: Anne Boleyn, and Kingsman: The Great Game, and stage productions such as My Cousin Rachel, Heathers, and Les Misérables.

Kirsty Malpass

Malpass plays Hefina, the no-nonsense stalwart of the strike committee in the Welsh village who firmly welcomes LGSM and refuses to countenance reluctance from anyone. Malpass’s screen credits include Matilda The Musical, Andor and The Pink Marble Egg, and her stage work includes Come From Away, Girl from the North Country, Groundhog Day, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, HONK!, and The Lord of the Rings.

Sarah Pugh

Pugh plays Siân, a young miner’s wife who begins as a shy member of the committee and, empowered by her experiences during the strike and work with LGSM, grows into a passionate advocate with grand ambitions of her own. Pugh’s past work includes The Heart on screen and, on stage, The Gondoliers, The Pirates of Penzance, Finding Home, and The Corn is Green.

Caroline Sheen

Sheen plays Maureen, the widow of a miner, who is fiercely opposed to LGSM being in their village. Sheen’s work on screen includes Les Misérables, Hotel Babylon, Torchwood, Ghosts, and Sister Boniface Mysteries. On stage, she has starred in Mamma Mia!, The Witches of Eastwick, Les Misérables, Grease, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, The Light in the Piazza, Putting It Together, Into the Woods, Grease, Crazy For You, and 9 to 5.

Courtney Stapleton

Stapleton plays Steph, the self-proclaimed gobby lesbian who puts the “L” into LGSM. She befriends Bromley, and often shares her romantic woes with him and later with the Welsh women she meets in the village. Stapleton is known for her extensive stage work, starring in shows such as SIX, Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia!, Dear Evan Hansen, Bat Out of Hell, Les Misérables, and a concert version of Love Never Dies.

Main photo credit: Pride at the National Theatre. Inset: the cast of Pride (all photos courtesy of the production)