Pinocchio returns to Shakespeare's Globe for a second Christmas, with Lee Braithwaite back as the wooden boy and Gabrielle Brooks new to the company as the Blue Fairy. Here is everything you need to know before you book.
Pinocchio runs at the Globe Theatre from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The family musical had its premiere there in 2025 and was seen by more than 33,000 people. The Telegraph called it "one of the best family shows around". This is its first revival.
Who is starring in Pinocchio?
Lee Braithwaite returns in the title role. Four more members of the original company come back with him: Kerry Frampton as Fox, Ed Gaughan as Franzini, and Lizzy Ives and Kody Mortimer as ensemble swings.
Gabrielle Brooks joins as the Blue Fairy and Colm Gormley as Geppetto. Amy Booth-Steel covers three parts: Giacomo Cricket, The Coachman and Cat. Luke Brady plays Carpenter and Rabbit Prince Charming. Liv Alexander and Josh Butler join the ensemble as swings. The puppeteers are Bartolomeo Bartolini, Aya Nakamura and Andrea Sadler. The full company was announced on 20 October; our casting story has the detail.
Spotlight on Gabrielle Brooks
Gabrielle Brooks is best known for playing Rita Marley in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at the Lyric Theatre. That performance earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Brooks has also worked at the Globe before, in The Comedy of Errors and Cymbeline, so the building and its open stage are familiar. The Blue Fairy is the figure who watches over the puppet, steps in when he is in trouble and sets the terms on which he can become a real boy. The part needs a singer who can carry both the warmth and the authority. Brooks plays it at the Globe from 28 November in Pinocchio.
What is Pinocchio about?
The show is drawn from Carlo Collodi's stories, first published as a serial between 1881 and 1883. It is a new stage musical, not a version of the Disney film. Geppetto is a woodcarver who feels hemmed in by his small town. He carves a puppet, names him Pinocchio, and the two go out into the world in search of a family. They meet a string of odd characters on the way, and both of them learn what it means to be human.
Who is behind the production?
Sean Holmes, the Globe's Associate Artistic Director, directs. The book and lyrics are by Charlie Josephine, whose I, Joan played the Globe, and the music and lyrics by Jim Fortune. Roberta Zuric is associate director, Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu choreographer and Grace Smart designer. Peter O'Rourke directs and designs the puppetry. Orchestrations are by Zac Gvi and sound design by Tony Gayle. The production is Shakespeare's Globe's own.
When and where can I see it?
Pinocchio runs at the Globe Theatre on Bankside from Saturday 28 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Press night is Saturday 5 December. The running time is 2 hours 10 minutes, including an interval. The show is recommended for ages five and over. Tickets currently start at £8.
What else should I book if I like it?
- Room on the Broom at the Lyric Theatre: a Christmas show for younger children, adapted from the picture book. Our guide has the detail.
- The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre: the festive classic told in music and dance, with no dialogue at all.
- Jack and the Beanstalk at the Hackney Empire: a traditional pantomime for families who want the shouting as well as the songs.
- Paddington: The Musical: another story about a newcomer looking for a family. Amy Booth-Steel's West End credits include it.
Tickets for Pinocchio at the Globe Theatre are on sale now.
