Get to know the magical cast of 'Into the Woods'

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's fairytale musical is getting an all-star revival at the Bridge Theatre.

Summary

• Into the Woods is getting a major revival at London's Bridge Theatre this Christmas
• The cast is led by Jamie Parker as the Baker and Katie Brayben as the Baker's Wife
• Kate Fleetwood plays the cunning Witch who sends the Baker on his quest
• The company also features Oliver Savile and Jo Foster

We’re heading back into the woods with an exciting, star-studded revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical at the Bridge Theatre this Christmas. The beloved show mashes up several fairytale classics, including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood, in this brilliantly funny and moving tale all about what we really want in life.

The revival is directed by Jordan Fein, who helmed the Olivier Award-winning Fiddler on the Roof which began at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and transferred to the West End. It also features an incredible cast, teeming with amazing musical theatre names.

Ahead of your trip to the show, get to know this magical company.

Book Into the Woods tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Jamie Parker as the Baker

Playing the Baker, who must enter the woods on a quest in order to break the Witch’s curse and be able to have children, is Jamie Parker. He won an Olivier Award for originating the role of Harry Potter in the wizard stage show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and was also nominated for a Tony when the production went to Broadway.

Parker’s numerous other credits include being part of the original cast of The History Boys, playing Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Mike in High Society, the title character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and most recently Dan Goodman in the UK premiere of Next to Normal.

Katie Brayben as the Baker’s Wife

Joining the Baker on his quest (whether he likes it or not) is his determined wife, although she sometimes dreams of a very different life – especially when she crosses paths with other characters in the woods. She is played by Katie Brayben, a two-time Olivier winner for her powerful performances in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Tammy Faye.

Brayden’s numerous other shows include Girl from the North Country, American Psycho, Mamma Mia!, King Charles III, and Company, while on screen she has appeared in The Wheel of Time, Luther, Miss Scarlet and The Duke, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

Chumisa Dornford-May as Cinderella

This version of Cinderella isn’t quite so sure that she wants to be romanced by a prince – it could be a dream come true, but how do you know if this stranger is really your destiny? It’s a fun contemporary spin on the fairy tale, and should give rising star Chumisa Dornford-May plenty to sink her teeth into.

The brilliant young actress has already racked up an impressive list of credits, including playing Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Natasha in the UK premiere of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (for which she was Olivier nominated), and Fritz in Sondheim’s final musical, Here We Are.

Kate Fleetwood as the Witch

It’s the cunning Witch who sends the Baker off to collect “the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold” – although it turns out she has her own reasons for needing this idiosyncratic collection. Kate Fleetwood joins the fabulous list of actresses who have relished this role, which was originated by Bernadette Peters.

Fleetwood was Olivier nominated for the extraordinary musical London Road at the National Theatre, and her diverse career also encompasses High Society (in which she co-starred with Into the Woods castmate Jamie Parker), 101 Dalmatians, Macbeth, Ugly Lies the Bone, Medea, and recently My Master Builder.

Jo Foster as Jack

Jack, of beanstalk fame, is a naïve boy who is persuaded to sell his beloved cow Milky White for a suspect handful of magic beans – although it turns out they really are magic. He grows up significantly during the course of the show. Jack will be played by another talented rising star, Jo Foster.

Theatre audiences fell in love with Foster when they starred in Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow’s musical Why Am I So Single?, the duo’s much-anticipated follow-up to SIX. Foster has also appeared in shows like Sondheim’s The Frogs, Four Play, Just For One Day, & Juliet, and Legally Blonde.

Gracie McGonigal as Little Red Ridinghood

This character probably needs no introduction, but, like Jack, this version goes on a journey of self-discovery through the story via her misadventures with the Wolf. Those particular life lessons are hard won. She’s also a cheeky, brash character who tucks into the food she’s taking to her Grandmother along the way.

Playing Little Red Ridinghood is the exciting new talent Gracie McGonigal. Musical theatre fans will know her from her star-making turn in musical The Little Big Things at @sohoplace, in which she played Katie, and her other work includes The Crucible, Cinderella, Aladdin, and TV series The Power. She also appears in the upcoming season of Bridgerton.

Oliver Savile as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf

Two of the most enjoyable roles in the show go to Oliver Savile: the preening Prince, who can’t resist the chase (even if he’s baffled that any woman would run from him), and the predatory, seductive Wolf, who tries to tempt Little Red Ridinghood off the path and into his belly.

Musical theatre leading man Savile has already proved he’s irresistible in numerous shows, playing Fiyero in Wicked, Enjolras in Les Misérables, Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman, Frank in Annie Get Your Gun, Gideon in The Last Ship, and Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show.

Rhys Whitfield as Rapunzel’s Prince

Yes, we get duelling princes in the show – and in fact their rivalrous duets (“Agony”) are among the absolute comic highlights of Into the Woods. Rapunzel’s Prince is just as egotistical and fired up by the challenge of pursuing the object of his affection, although in his case the main barrier is a very, very high tower...and he has to climb a girl’s hair.

It’s another gem of a part, and in this revival the Prince will be played by Rhys Whitfield. His recent roles include Andy’s boyfriend Nate in The Devil Wears Prada and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, and his other shows include My Fair Lady, Summer and Smoke, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Bella Brown as Rapunzel

The girl who lets down her hair for this rather feckless prince is of course Rapunzel, the maiden trapped in a tower. In this story, she’s actually the Witch’s daughter, and the Witch is desperate to keep her from the world – and safe with her. But Rapunzel’s exquisite singing draws the prince in.

Anyone who saw the brilliant Bella Brown in the smash-hit West End revival of Evita will know that she has just such a voice: Brown played the Mistress and also understudied Rachel Zegler in the title role. Her other work includes Hadestown, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, and Rock Follies.

Book Into the Woods tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Into the Woods cast (Photos courtesy of the production)