The Witches
book and lyrics by Lucy Kirkwood, music and lyrics by Dave Malloy
a co-production with Roald Dahl Story Company
Booking and details
Olivier Theatre
National Theatre
South Bank
London SE1 9PX
A musical adventure
Everything you know about witches is wrong. Forget the pointy hats and broomsticks: they’re the most dangerous creatures on earth.
And now they’ve come up with their most evil plan yet.
The only thing standing in their way is Luke and his Gran. But he’s ten and she’s got a dodgy heart. Time is short, danger is everywhere, and they’ve got just one chance to stop the witches from squalloping every stinking little child in England.
The Witches is a rip-roaring musical version of Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, filled with wit, daring and heart. With book and lyrics by Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood, music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy, and directed by Lyndsey Turner.
Performed 7 November 2023 — 27 January 2024 in the Olivier Theatre.
Suitability
For 8+ year olds
This show contains moments of bright flashing lights. It contains themes of bereavement and death.
More advice and guidance
Supporters
The development of new music theatre is supported by the Genesis Foundation through the Genesis Music Theatre Programme.
The New American Work Programme is supported by Lawton W Fitt & James I McLaren Foundation.
This is an Edgerton New Plays Commission. New Play Commissions are also supported by the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation.
Costumes for this production supported by Jordan Roth.
Gallery
Production images
Rehearsal images
Video
Cast
Julie Armstrong
Julie Armstrong is an actress, director and choreographer.
Chrissie Bhima
Chrissie Bhima is an actress with background in musical theatre.
Zoe Birkett
Zoe Birkett’s career began at 16 years old when she became the highest-placing female on ITV’s Pop Idol 2002.
Maddison Bulleyment
Maddison Bulleyment is a British actor, singer and dancer.
Miracle Chance
Miracle Chance is an actress, singer and songwriter.
Daniele Coombe
Daniele Coombe is an actress, singes and performance coach.
Richard David-Caine
Richard David-Caine is an English actor, writer and voiceover artist.
Molly-May Gardiner
Molly-May Gardiner is a London-based actress with background in musical theatre.
Tiffany Graves
Tiffany Graves is an actress, singer and dancer.
Adrian Grove
Adrian Grove is a theatre, film and TV actor.
Irvine Iqbal
Irvine Iqbal is a British South Asian singer, actor and voice-over artist.
Katherine Kingsley
Katherine Kingsley is a British actress.
Emily Langham
Emily Langham is an actress and singer.
Bobbie Little
Bobbie Little is a London-based actress.
Tania Mathurin
Tania Mathurin is a theatre and TV actress.
Amira Matthews
Amira Matthews is a London-based actress and singer.
Jacob Maynard
Jacob Maynard is a London-based actor.
Laura Medforth
Laura Medforth is a London-based actress with background in musical theatre.
Ekow Quartey
Ekow Quartey is a British theatre, film and TV actor.
Ben Redfern
Ben Redfern is a London-based theatre actor.
Daniel Rigby
Daniel Rigby is an English actor and stand-up comedian.
Maggie Service
Maggie Service is an actor, award-winning audiobook narrator and voice-over artist.
Sally Ann Triplett
Sally Ann Triplett is a London-based theatre actress.
Alexandra Waite-Roberts
Alexandra Waite-Roberts is a musical theatre performer.
The role of Luke is played by:
Bertie Caplan
Bertie Caplan’s work in theatre includes Watch on the Rhine at the Donmar Warehouse. TV includes Carnival Row, Doc Martin and Tulipop Tales. Film includes The Magic Flute, Golda and Wonka.
Frankie Keita
Frankie Keita’s work in theatre includes The Bodyguard on tour; and The Emil Dale Ten Year Anniversary Concert at the Indigo Lounge, O2. Dance includes Crystal Pite’s Light of Passage with the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House; Anne of Green Gables for London Children’s Ballet at the Peacock; and The Enchanted Jewel Box and 5,6,7,8 for LJ Dance at the Gordon Craig. TV includes Wolf.
Vishal Soni
Vishal Soni’s work in theatre includes The Sound of Music at Chichester; Les Misérables on UK tour and West End; and The Prince of Egypt in the West End. Film includes Wicked (forthcoming).
The role of Bruno is played by:
Cian Eagle-Service
Cian Eagle-Service’s work in theatre includes Love Never Dies in Concert, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins and The Prince of Egypt in the West End. TV includes Britain’s Got Talent Live Final 2023 (with the cast of Les Misérables). Film includes The Prince of Egypt (filmed live in the West End).
George Menezes Cutts
George Menezes Cutts’s work in theatre includes Winnie the Pooh in London and on UK tour; Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at London’s Southbank Centre; and Bonnie and Clyde and The Prince of Egypt in the West End. TV includes voice work for a new series on Disney+.
William Skinner
Roald Dahl’s The Witches is William Skinner’s professional theatre debut.
The role of Helga is played by:
Jersey Blu Georgia
Jersey Blu Georgia’s work in theatre includes The Crucible at the National Theatre; The Duchess of Malfi at the Almeida; Bonnie and Clyde at the Arts; The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion; and West End Live 2021. TV includes Wool. Film includes The Prince of Egypt and the short films The Loop and Such a Loser.
Asanda Abbie Masike
Asanda Abbie Masike’s work in theatre includes Frozen at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane; and A Christmas Carol at the Dominion.
Chloe Raphael
Chloe Raphael’s work in theatre includes Annie on UK tour; Watch on the Rhine at the Donmar; Little Miss Sunshine at the Arcola; and Leopoldstadt in the West End. TV includes Bodies, Thomas & Friends and The Letter for the King. Films include Thomas & Friends: Race for the Sodor Cup and the short film Squirrel. Radio includes Home Front.
Young Company
Nesim Adnan
Nesim Adnan is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Alaia Broadbent
Alaia Broadbent is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Chenai Broadbent
Chenai Broadbent is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Cristian Buttaci
Cristian Buttaci is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Sekhani Dumezweni
Sekhani Dumezweni is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Rudy Gibson
Rudy Gibson is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Florence Gore
Florence Gore is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Elara Jagger
Elara Jagger is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Annabelle Jones
Annabelle Jones is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Jemima Loosen
Jemima Loosen is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Charlie Man-Evans
Charlie Man-Evans is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Iesa Miller
Iesa Miller is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Jack Philpott
Jack Philpott is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Sienna Sibley
Sienna Sibley is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Savannah Skinner-Henry
Savannah Skinner-Henry is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Poppy-Mei Soon
Poppy-Mei Soon is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Benjamin Spalding
Benjamin Spalding is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Dylan Trigger
Dylan Trigger is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Alice Valeriano
Alice Valeriano is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Sasha Watson-Lobo
Sasha Watson-Lobo is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Stella Yeoman
Stella Yeoman is a member of the Young Company for Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
Production team
Book and lyrics
Lucy Kirkwood
Lucy Kirkwood
Music and lyrics
Dave Malloy
Dave Malloy
Director
Lyndsey Turner
Lyndsey Turner
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Crucible, Under Milk Wood, Top Girls, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, There is a War and Edgar and Annabel
Set and Costume Designer
Lizzie Clachan
Lizzie Clachan
Choreographer
Stephen Mear
Stephen Mear
Music Supervisor
Nigel Lilley
Nigel Lilley
Music Director
Cat Beveridge
Cat Beveridge
Cat Beveridge trained as a repetiteur with the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, with English National Opera, as an Associate Artist with Welsh National Opera and at the Royal College of Music and Royal Northern College of Music.
Lighting Designer
Bruno Poet
Bruno Poet
Co-Sound Designer
Alexander Caplen
Alexander Caplen
For the National: The Father and the Assassin, The Great Wave, My Country; a work in progress, We Want You to Watch, Hotel; and, as associate sound designer, Translations, Follies and People, Places & Things (also in the West End and at St Ann’s Warehouse)
Co-Sound Designer
Ian Dickinson for Autograph
Ian Dickinson for Autograph
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Witches, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Translations, Small Island, Angels in America (also Broadway), Evening at the Talk House, The Red Lion, Rules for Living, A Taste of Honey, Emil and the Detectives, This House (also Chichester and Garrick) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Video Designer
Ash J Woodward
Ash J Woodward
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, Dear England and Hex
Co-Illusion Designer and Director
Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Witches, Peter Gynt, Julie, Angels in America (also Broadway), Here We Go, Pinocchio and Treasure Island
Co-Illusion Designer and Director
Will Houstoun
Will Houstoun
Casting Director
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, London Tide, Dear Octopus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Odyssey, Dear England (also in the West End), Dixon and Daughters, Romeo and Julie, Much Ado About Nothing, Trouble in Mind, Hex, After Life, Dick Whittington, The Visit, My Brilliant Friend and Peter Gynt
Voice Coach and Children's Singing Coach
Dialect Coach
Edda Sharpe
Edda Sharpe
Associate Director
Séimí Campbell
Séimí Campbell
For the National Theatre: Dancing at Lughnasa (associate director), Hex (associate director)
Associate Set Designer
Shankho Chaudhuri
Shankho Chaudhuri
Shankho Chaudhuri is a set and graphic designer based in London.
Associate Costume Designer
Johanna Coe
Johanna Coe
Associate Choreographer
Ebony Molina
Ebony Molina
Associate Music Director
Natalie Pound
Natalie Pound
Children’s and Assistant Music Director
Sarah Morrison
Sarah Morrison
Associate Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer
Kim Kasim
Kim Kasim
Staff Director
Priya Patel Appleby
Priya Patel Appleby
Musicians
Music Director / Piano
Cat Beveridge
Cat Beveridge
Cat Beveridge trained as a repetiteur with the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, with English National Opera, as an Associate Artist with Welsh National Opera and at the Royal College of Music and Royal Northern College of Music.
Keys 2 / Accordion
Sarah Morrison
Sarah Morrison
Kit
Shane Forbes
Shane Forbes
Percussion
Joley Cragg
Joley Cragg
Upright Bass
Nicki Davenport
Nicki Davenport
Harp
Camilla Pay
Camilla Pay
Trumpet / Flugelhorn
Owain Harries
Owain Harries
Trombone / Tuba
Nathaniel Cross
Nathaniel Cross
Flute / Piccolo / Alto Saxophone
James Mainwaring
James Mainwaring
Bassoon / Tenor Saxophone
Alice Lee
Alice Lee
Viola
Tina Jacobs-Lim
Tina Jacobs-Lim
Cello
Dominique Pecheur
Dominique Pecheur
Activity resources for schools
Pre-show activity resource
Download the post-show activity pack (PDF 1MB)
Post-show activity resource
Download the post-show activity pack (PDF 1.1MB)