Brinkhoff-Moegenburg's photographs of the new company at the Lyric Theatre are out, and they put Nathan Sykes, Danielle de Niese, Shaun Dooley, Fayth Ifil and Malinda Parris on stage in Hadestown for the first time.
A red carnation held out under the lamps, an electric guitar cutting through the haze, a line of workers marching into the dark: the new production photographs of Hadestown have been released, shot by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg. They are the first sight of the company that recently joined the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical at the Lyric Theatre, and footage from the production has been released alongside them.
Nathan Sykes plays Orpheus. Sykes earned international success as a member of chart-topping band The Wanted before launching an acclaimed solo career.
Danielle de Niese is Persephone. The internationally renowned soprano and broadcaster has performed with all the leading opera companies and orchestras around the world, and won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera earlier this year.
Shaun Dooley takes Hades. The screen credits of the film and television actor include Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, Criminal Record, Changing Ends, It's a Sin, Gentleman Jack, The Stranger, Broadchurch, Misfits and Saltburn, alongside a body of stage work that takes in Jez Butterworth's Hills of California, directed by Sam Mendes.
Fayth Ifil plays Eurydice. She first appeared in the West End at the age of ten and has since led in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and Just For One Day. Malinda Parris is Hermes, a role she comes to after West End credits including The Greatest Showman, Hercules, & Juliet, Little Big Things, Mary Poppins, Matilda, Caroline, or Change, The Light Princess and Parade.
The company is completed by Melanie Bright, Spike Maxwell and Lauran Rae as the Fates, and Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Gabriela Benedetti, Ollie Bingham and Sebastian Lim-Seet as the Workers, with Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda, Jasmine Triadi and Milly Willows as swings.
Hadestown twines two myths together on a journey to the underworld and back: the young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and his wife Persephone. Music, lyrics and book are by Anaïs Mitchell, who started the piece as an indie theatre project and an album before turning it into a musical with her artistic collaborator, director Rachel Chavkin. The score reaches across indie folk, pop, blues and New Orleans-inspired jazz. We covered the casting announcement earlier this month.
The creative team is David Neumann (choreography), Rachel Hauck (scenic design), Michael Krass (costume design), Bradley King (lighting design), Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz (sound design), Liam Robinson (music supervision and vocal arrangements), Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose (arrangements and orchestrations), Ken Cerniglia (dramaturgy), Tarek Merchant (co-musical director and associate music supervisor), George Francis (co-musical director), Maria Crocker (UK associate director), Bobby Windebank (associate choreographer) and Victoria Gimby (resident director). Casting is by Jacob Sparrow, with principal casting by Rob Kelly. The London production is produced by Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, Tom Kirdahy and the National Theatre in association with JAS Theatricals.
A new booking period goes on sale at 12 noon on Friday 25 September 2026, covering performances until 12 December 2027 for individuals and 13 February 2028 for groups. Hadestown runs at the Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, with tickets from £25 and a running time of approximately two hours and 30 minutes including an interval.
