Spectacular new staging of Into the Woods to open at Bath’s Theatre Royal

Theatre Royal Bath is being transformed for a brand-new staging of Into The Woods, the legendary Stephen Sondheim musical with book by James Lapine, co-directed by Terry Gilliam (Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Brazil, The Fisher King) and Leah Hausman (Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre). The fantastical story will be brought to life in the Theatre Royal’s Main House appearing from Wednesday 17th August to Saturday 10th September. The cast for this thrilling new production includes Rhashan Stone (Finding Alice, Hollington Drive, Keeping Faith), Nicola Hughes (Fosse, Porgy and Bess), Julian Bleach (The Grinning Man, Shockheaded Peter), Audrey Brisson (Amélie, Outlander), Gillian Bevan (Billy Elliot, Teachers) and Alex Young (Follies, South Pacific).

Image: Lauren Conroy as Little Red Riding Hood, credit Matt Crockett

Into The Woods combines some of the best-known fairy tales in a captivating musical adventure. In this production, the story unfolds through the inquisitive eyes of a young girl playing with a Victorian toy theatre. Once upon a time in her enchanted world, a baker and his wife set out to reverse the curse which has left them childless. Along the way, they meet Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Jack (of beanstalk fame) and, of course, a Witch! In the end, this one-of-a-kind musical is about the stories we tell, the paths we take and the lessons we pass on.

This imaginative and delightfully playful production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods arrives as a timely celebration of the late composer’s unparalleled impact on musical theatre. Adapted into a major film with stars including Meryl Streep and James Corden in 2014, Into The Woods has won multiple Tony and Olivier Awards since it was first performed on stage in 1986.

The outstanding cast appearing at the Theatre Royal Bath includes Rhashan Stone as the Baker. Seen on television recently as Nathan in Finding Alice, Fraser in Hollington Drive, DI Laurence Breeze in Keeping the Faith and Tony Carter in Carters Get Rich, Rhashan’s numerous screen credits also include McDonald & Dodds, 101 Dalmatian Street, Delicious, Agatha Raisin, Horrible Histories, Bodies, Mutual Friends and Strike Back. His stage credits range from productions at the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company to All About Eve and Five Guys Named Moe in the West End.

Nicola Hughes, who plays the role of the Witch, is twice Olivier Award nominated for her starring West End roles in Fosse and Porgy and Bess. In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Nicola was the first woman of colour to play Velma Kelly in Chicago in the West End and starred with the late Jerry Lee Lewis in Damn Yankees at London’s Adelphi Theatre. Her television credits include playing Jenna in Mount Pleasant, Carmen in Parents of the Band and Sundae Gorgeous in Rock Rivals. 

The Baker’s Wife is played by Alex Young, whose theatre credits include Follies at the National Theatre, South Pacific and Me and My Girl at Chichester Festival Theatre, Carousel at the London Coliseum for English National Opera, Show Boat in the West End, I Can’t Sing at the London Palladium and High Society on UK tour.

The role of Mysterious Man is played by Julian Bleach, who starred in The Grinning Man at Bristol Old Vic and in the West End, and co-created the Olivier Award-winning Shockheaded Peter, starring in the West End and on national and international tours. Julian’s many screen credits include Halo, Close to the Enemy, Doctor Who, The Borgias, Emerald City, Heirs of the Night, Topsy Turvy and The Brothers Grimm.

Audrey Brisson, who plays the role of Cinderella, was Olivier Award nominated in 2020 for her starring role in Amélie The Musical in the West End. Her many stage credits also include The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk at the Bristol Old Vic for Wise Children and Kneehigh Theatre, The Grinning Man at Bristol Old Vic and Dead Dog in a Suitcase & Other Love Songs for Kneehigh. 

Gillian Bevan, who appears as Jack’s mother, won the Olivier Audience Award for her role as Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot in the West End. Amongst her extensive theatre credits, she starred as Mama Mizner in the European premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Road Show at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and was invited to perform in the 80th birthday tribute concert of Company for Stephen Sondheim at the Donmar Theatre. Her many television roles have included Theresa May in The Windsors, Clare Hunter in Teachers, Detective Superintendent Rose Penfold in The Chief and Beryl Wainwright in Sharon and Elsie.

The cast also features Nathanael Campbell (Stage Debut Award nominee for Come From Away) as the Wolf and the Prince; Lauren Conroy who makes her professional stage debut as Little Red Riding Hood; Barney Wilkinson (Sunset Boulevard, Bat Out of Hell) as Jack; Jamie Birkett (Groan Ups, Les Misérables) as Lucinda; Samuel Holmes (Crazy for You, Kiss Me, Kate) as the Steward; Charlotte Jaconelli (Heathers the Musical, Sweet Charity) as Florinda; Maria Conneely who makes her musical theatre debut as Rapunzel, and Henry Jenkinson (Measure for Measure, Bad News! - New York) who makes his UK theatre debut as the Prince.

Co-directors Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman lead the world-class creative team behind this new staging of Into The Woods. Terry Gilliam is the surreal director and artist behind the iconic imagery of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. As a legendary film director, he is the recipient of a BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award for a career which has included Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Brothers Grimm, Brazil, Time Bandits, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the Oscar-winning The Fisher King. He also directed the English National Opera’s acclaimed productions of The Damnation of Faust and Benvenuto Cellini. Leah Hausman has choreographed extensively all over the world, including for the Royal Opera House, where her credits have included Rigoletto, Le nozze di Figaro, Aida, Les Troyens and Elektra. Leah collaborated with Terry Gilliam on The Damnation of Faust and Benvenuto Cellini at The London Coliseum, and has also worked with numerous theatre companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, The Old Vic, Chichester Festival and Royal Court.

Music director for Into The Woods is Stephen Higgins. Design is by Jon Bausor with costume design by Antony McDonald, lighting design by Mark Henderson, video design by Will Duke and sound design by Paul Groothuis. 

Theatre Royal Bath’s director Danny Moar said: “We are thrilled to have secured a cast as talented as our creative team and as extraordinary as Stephen Sondheim’s material. This promises to be the most spectacular production ever to have been staged at the Theatre Royal Bath.”

Into The Woods is presented at the Theatre Royal Bath by Scenario Two and Theatre Royal Bath Productions. 

Scenario Two’s co-director John Berry said: “It was both a joy and privilege to work with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine through the development of this new production and I’m thrilled to be working again with stage Directors Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman, whose work together is never less than highly entertaining and always visually stunning.” 

Scenario Two’s co-director Anthony Lilley said: “It’s been a challenge for the whole industry to bring shows to the stage over the last couple of years, so we are especially thrilled to share the news of this wonderful cast. I can’t wait to see the production finally come alive in Bath this August.”

Into The Woods appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Wednesday 17th August to Saturday 10th September. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on +44 (0)1225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk