Shafts of light, a cow cradled in Jack's arms and a red cloak: Johan Persson's production photographs of Into the Woods catch the musical as it reaches its official opening night at the Noël Coward Theatre on Wednesday 7 October 2026.
The lead frame is all about the light. A single beam drops through the canopy and five travellers freeze beneath it, mouths open: Keith Ramsay's Jack hugging his cow, Gracie McGonigal in the red hood of Little Red Ridinghood, with Simbi Akande, Laura Pitt-Pulford and John Dagleish alongside. A second shot pulls back to a bare black stage, and a third gathers the full company into one crowded tableau.
Into the Woods started West End performances at the Noël Coward Theatre on Tuesday 22 September 2026 and has its official opening night this evening. It comes into St Martin's Lane after a run at the Bridge Theatre, with Jordan Fein directing Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's fairytale musical and Tom Scutt designing both set and costumes.
Kate Fleetwood plays the Witch, with John Dagleish and Laura Pitt-Pulford as the Baker and the Baker's Wife. Simbi Akande is Cinderella and Matthew Seadon-Young doubles as Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf. The principal company is completed by Fiona Finsbury (Rapunzel), Lucas Koch (Rapunzel's Prince), Julie Jupp (Jack's Mother), Michael S. Siegel (Narrator / Mysterious Man), Valda Aviks (Grandmother/Giant), Jennifer Hepburn (Cinderella's Stepmother, and alternate Witch), Geoffrey Aymer (Cinderella's Father), Hana Ichijo (Lucinda), Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson (Florinda) and Jack Quarton (Steward).
Behind the scenes, Mark Aspinall is musical supervisor and the orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick. Lighting is by Aideen Malone, sound by Adam Fisher and video by Roland Horvath, with movement direction from Jenny Ogilvie. The puppets are designed by Cheryl ‘Chuck’ Brown, Max Humphries and Tom Scutt, and casting is by Stuart Burt CDG CSA.
We ran the trailer for the Noël Coward run in September, and our guide to what to expect covers the story and the staging in more depth.
Great stalls seats are available from £50, and a limited number of £25 stalls tickets is held back for under-30s at Monday to Thursday performances, with ID checked on arrival. The show is recommended for ages 12 and over. An audio-described performance follows on Friday 9 October 2026, then a British Sign Language performance on Wednesday 4 November 2026 and a captioned performance on Monday 9 November 2026, all at 7.30pm. Tickets for Into the Woods are on sale now.
