Get to know the swellegant cast of 'High Society' at the Barbican

Helen George, Felicity Kendal, Freddie Fox, and Julian Ovenden star in this fabulous Cole Porter musical at the Barbican.

Summary

• High Society is playing at the Barbican this summer
• The Cole Porter musicals stars Helen George as Tracy Lord
• The cast also features Felicity Kendal and Freddie Fox
• Other fabulous performers include Julian Ovenden and Carly Mercedes Dyer

The most swellegant, elegant actors have been invited to host the party of the summer, the fabulous Cole Porter musical High Society. The show is playing at London’s Barbican, led by Helen George as the soon-to-be-wed socialite Tracy Lord – but her wedding may not go according to plan.

The delightful company, who are directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, and have the pleasure of singing Porter hits like “Well, Did You Evah!”, “True Love” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, also includes Julian Ovenden, Freddie Fox, Carly Mercedes Dyer, and Felicity Kendal. Get to know them ahead of your High Society trip.

Book High Society tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Helen George

George stars as Tracy Lord, who is torn between her fiancé, her former husband, and a pesky but charming journalist. She rose to fame on the BBC series Call the Midwife, playing Trixie, and her screen appearances also include Strictly Come Dancing and Nativity Rocks!. On stage, she played Anna Leonowens in a West End production of The King and I at the Dominion Theatre.

Julian Ovenden

Ovenden plays Tracy’s first husband, the well-moneyed but recently transformed Dexter Haven. His stage appearances include Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, and The Crown, while on stage his numerous roles in both musicals and plays include Merrily We Roll Along, Annie Get Your Gun, Sunday in the Park with George, Show Boat, My Night With Reg, and South Pacific.

Felicity Kendal

Kendal plays Mother Lord, Tracy’s shrewd parent, who is endeavouring to keep the show on the road despite numerous challenges. She is beloved for playing Barbara in iconic sitcom The Good Life, and her countless other stage and screen roles range from Amadeus, The Real Thing, Arcadia, Much Ado About Nothing and Anything Goes to Ludwig, Valentino, and Rivals.

Freddie Fox

Fox is journalist Mike Connor, who arrives to cover Tracy’s wedding and is full of scorn for the ultra-rich. His career includes screen roles in The Riot Club, Pride, The Great, The Pursuit of Love, Slow Horses, and House of the Dragon, while on stage his credits include Hay Fever, The Judas Kiss, Romeo and Juliet, Travesties, An Ideal Husband, and She Stoops to Conquer.

Carly Mercedes Dyer

Dyer plays Mike’s loyal partner, the quick-witted photographer Liz Imbrie, who shares some of his scepticism. She was Olivier Award nominated for her hilarious turn in Anything Goes, also at the Barbican, and her other acclaimed theatre shows include A Chorus Line, Gypsy, The Drifters Girl, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, West Side Story, The Frogs, and Singin’ in the Rain.

Nigel Lindsay

The Olivier-nominated actor is playing Tracy’s roguish Uncle Willy, who gets caught up in the pre-wedding hijinks. His previous stage projects include Dealer’s Choice, Blue Remembered Hills, The Real Thing, The Pillowman, Guys and Dolls, Shrek the Musical, and Kiss Me, Kate, and his screen appearances include Four Lions, Victoria, Unforgotten, White Gold, and The Capture.

Malcolm Sinclair

Sinclair plays Tracy’s imposing father, Seth Lord, whose scandalous behaviour sparks some of the farcical events of the show. His screen credits include Pie in the Sky, Andor, Foyle’s War, Daphne, Casino Royale, and V for Vendetta, while on stage he has appeared in shows such as The Habit of Art, Racing Demon, The Power of Yes, Pressure, My Fair Lady, and The History Boys.

Naomi Pacquette

Pacquette has the fun role of Tracy’s blunt younger sister, Dinah, who adores Dexter and cheerfully comments on the growing chaos of the wedding. This recent drama school graduate and rising star has appeared in short films Santa’s Little Helpers and Spread the Love Around, and, while training, shows like Onegin, Wonderland, and Our House.

David Seadon-Young

Seadon-Young plays George Kittridge, Tracy’s stuffed-shirt fiancé: a successful entrepreneur but a rather humourless, and overly moralistic, man. An experienced stage actor, his numerous theatre credits include An American in Paris, The Sound of Music, Assassins, Oklahoma!, Ghost, Mamma Mia!, Aspects of Love, Twelfth Night, A Damsel in Distress, and 42nd Street.

Book High Society tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: The cast of High Society (Photo by Dan Kennedy)