Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar to lead cast in 'Kiss Me, Kate' revival

Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block, who will make her West End debut, is known for her Broadway work including Into The Woods, The Cher Show, and 9 to 5.

Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block is set to make her West End debut alongside Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar in a new production of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate. The musical will open at the Barbican Centre on 4 June.

Block, who is known for her work on Broadway, including Into The Woods, The Cher Show, and 9 to 5, will play Lilli Vanessi/Katharine. Dunbar makes his musical theatre debut as Fred Graham/Petruchio. They will be directed by Bartlett Sher, whose production of The King and I opens in the West End this month. Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia!, Sister Act, Hair) choreographs the musical.

This new production has over 50 members in the company, including a full-scale orchestra, and features classic songs including "Another Op’nin’, Another Show," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," and "Tom, Dick or Harry."

Adrian Dunbar said: “I’m so delighted to be returning to the stage this summer to my spiritual home at the Barbican - where I started my career at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama - especially in this Cole Porter classic with the wonderful creative team including Bart Sher and Stephanie J. Block. Summer 2024 just got a lot brighter!”   

Stephanie J. Block added: "Look... when asked to bring a Cole Porter classic to the Barbican stage under the care and vision of Bart Sher, one must say yes! There are so many 'firsts' to this opportunity, and at this stage of my career, 'firsts' are not the norm. How wonderfully scary and challenging and thrilling. I cannot wait to dive into this timeless classic and put a fresh stamp on it alongside the incredible Adrian Dunbar. Mark my words, this Kiss Me, Kate will most definitely not be just 'another openin,' another show'."

Kiss Me, Kate is a show within a show, which follows a theatre company as it attempts to put on a production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The battle of the sexes takes centre stage as former spouses feud, only to find the off-stage antics rival the drama on-stage. Expect cases of mistaken identity, confused love, gangsters, and a spectacular tap routine.

Check back for Kiss Me, Kate tickets on London Theatre.