Everybody’s Talking about Larson…
Max Harwood
Marcus Collins
Michael Mather
Grace Mouat
Imelda Warren-Green
will star in the European premiere of
THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT
Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
The celebrated New York tribute featuring previously unheard songs from the legendary composer of Rent
Conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper
Directed by John Simpkins
The producers alongside the production’s Emmy nominated casting director Rob Kelly today announce an open application search for two cover roles, inviting performers with no professional musical stage credits to apply
Southwark Playhouse Borough
Thursday 9 July – Saturday 22 August, 2026 for 6 weeks only!
This new production commemorates 30 years since Larson’s death on the very eve of his greatest success.
Max Harwood (the breakout star as Jamie New in the film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Marcus Collins (original West End cast of Kinky Boots), Michael Mather (currently playing Fiyero on the international tour of Wicked), Grace Mouat (Karen Smith in the West End premiere of Mean Girls and original West End cast of SIX) and Imelda Warren-Green (Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder in the West End), will star in the European premiere of The Jonathan Larson Project.
In the spirit of opportunity Jonathan Larson would have wanted, the producers alongside the production’s Emmy nominated casting director Rob Kelly today announce an open application search for two cover roles, inviting performers with no professional musical stage credits to apply via casting@robkellycasting.com
Following a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run, The Jonathan Larson Project will premiere in London at Southwark Playhouse Borough from Thursday 9 July – Saturday 22 August, 2026.
An electrifying celebration of the ground breaking composer behind Rent and tick, tick… BOOM!, it is being reimagined for London by the original Off Broadway director, John Simpkins.
Jonathan Larson’s sister, Julie, said today:
“It means so much to us to bring this show to a UK audience and to continue honoring Jonathan’s extraordinary work and legacy. This new celebration of my brother’s previously unheard music offers an intimate portrait of an artist who was truly ahead of his time, and we are deeply honored to share it with you.”
The Jonathan Larson Project is a show about a young man following his heart in New York City trying to change the world. The show offers a rare and exhilarating window into Larson’s creative world, featuring previously unheard songs from the late composer’s archives. They illuminate the artistry, activism, and restless imagination of one of musical theatre’s most influential voices.
The 2026 London production holds special significance, marking 30 years since Jonathan Larson’s death in January 1996 from an aortic dissection just one day before Rent’s first performance in New York.
This exciting UK cast of West End stars will bring Larson’s early, experimental, and never-heard work to life with bold theatricality and contemporary resonance.
Max Harwood was the breakout star in his professional acting debut as Jamie New in the film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie For his performance, he earned a 2021 Digital Spy Reader Awards for Rising Star – Film, the Breakthrough Award in the Attitude Awards and was named a 2021 Brit to Watch by Variety. He made is West End debut as Alan Munson in Stranger Things: The First Shadow and played the lead role of Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at The Other Palace. He starred as Mark Cohen in a production of RENT while in training at Guildhall School of Acting.
Marcus Collins has appeared in the West End as Andre in Mrs Doubtfire, and was Cover Lola & Angel in the original West End cast of Kinky Boots. His other major roles include Hardman in The Choir of Man, Seaweed in Hairspray and Hud in Hair (both UK tours). In 2011 he became a household name when he was a finalist on The X Factor, mentored by Gary Barlow.
Michael Mather was series regular Bobby in the BBC3 comedy Smoggie Queens and Maxwell in It’s A Sin (C4). His stage musical credits include Fiyero in Wicked The Musical (international tour), Jackson in Burlesque the Musical, Jimmy in Flashdance, Robbie in Soho Cinders, Hades in Mythic.
Grace Mouat was recently Karen Smith in the West End premiere of Mean Girls. Her other major West End roles include Izzy in The Great British Bake Off Musical, alternate Juliet in & Juliet Chloe Valentine in Be More Chill and the original West End cast of SIX the musical.
Imelda Warren-Green was Erica in Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder in the West End. Her other musical theatre credits include Miss Geist in Clueless The Musical (West End), Little Miss Sunshine, Bad Girls: The Musical, Whistle Down the Wind.
The Jonathan Larson Project recently captivated critics and audiences alike, leading to a 16-week Off Broadway season at the Orpheum Theatre.
John Simpkins, Director said today:
“Jonathan Larson changed the face of musical theatre. It is an enormous honour to be entrusted with directing this new production in the UK following our success Off Broadway.”
Thomas Hopkins and SAMS Entertainment, The Producers said:
“It is an honour to be entrusted with Jonathan’s legacy by Julie and the Larson family as we bring this refreshed production to London. This show allows lovers of Jonathan’s work from around the world to come together in one space and celebrate his life with music that was lost until John Simmkin and Jennifer Ashley Tepper uncovered hours of cassette tapes of undiscovered songs, piles of never-produced scripts, and many personal letters, photos, journals, and more. Their discoveries have been endlessly inspiring in creating this worldwide event in the 30th year of the passing of one of the world’s most beloved musical-theatre composers.”
Creative team:
Director John Simpkins
Musical Director: Livi Van Warmelo
Choreographer:
Set & Costume Designer: Justin Williams
Lighting Designer: Samuel Biondolillo
Casting: Rob Kelly
General Management: Thomas Hopkins Productions
Producers: Thomas Hopkins Productions Sams Entertainment
Executive Producer: Julie Larson
Jonathan Larson – Composer
Jonathan Larson (1960–1996) transformed the American musical with Rent. Despite his tragic death before opening night, Rent went on to enjoy critical and commercial success, and transferred to Broadway, becoming the 12th longest-running Broadway production. Larson posthumously received three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Rent was also adapted into a 2005 film. Tick, Tick… Boom! received an Off-Broadway production in 2001, and was also adapted into a 2021 film, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Andrew Garfield (in an Academy Award nominated performance) as Larson. Larson’s work continues to inspire new generations of artists and audiences around the world. The Jonathan Larson Project invites theatre lovers to discover the breadth of his talent beyond his most famous works.
John Simpkins – Director
John has directed New York productions of the three-time Drama Desk nominated Bloodsong of Love (Joe Iconis) at Ars Nova; Things to Ruin (which he co-conceived and directed) at Second Stage, Zipper Factory, Ars Nova; The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks at the Lortel Theatre; The Black Suits at SPF/ Public Theatre; The Bus (James Lantz) at 59E59; and ReWrite at Urban Stages. Additional world premieres include Joe Iconis’ Love in Hate Nation (Two River Theater) and The Black Suits (Center Theatre Group/ Kirk Douglas Theatre), Jacques Lamarre’s Raging Skillet (Theaterworks Hartford), and Andrea Daly/ Jeff Bienstock’s Legendale (Fredericia Teater in Denmark).
Thomas Hopkins Productions (THP) – Producer
Thomas Hopkins Productions (THP) was founded in 2019 by award-winning theatre, film, television, and radio producer Thomas Hopkins. Since its inception, THP has worked on over 150 live theatrical productions and numerous productions created and filmed specifically for platforms such as Sky, BBC, Amazon Prime, BroadwayHD, Broadway On Demand, and the educational platform Digital Theatre Plus. THP is recognised as an industry leader, specialising in transatlantic partnerships and supporting productions through its full-service organisation.
THP’s recent productions include; the critically acclaimed UK tour of The Talented Mr. Ripley and on Broadway; Robert Icke’s Oedipus, new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Liberation and seven-time Tony®-nominated John Proctor is the Villain. In London, THP produced This Bitter Earth, directed by Grammy Award, Emmy, and three-time Tony Award®-winning Billy Porter, at Soho Theatre in London’s West End; as well as the highly regarded Rose, starring Dame Maureen Lipman at the Ambassadors Theatre.
THP is passionate about creating new theatrical experiences and productions. Among THP’s current slate of development, some of the highlights include a new version of Boy George’s autobiographical musical Taboo, with plans to open in 2027; a new family musical by Olivier Award-winning composer Vikki Stone, based on the iconic BAFTA-winning BBC TV show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men by Sir Tony Robinson.
In 2026, THP are producing the 20th anniversary tour of the hit comedy Glorious! starring Wendi Peters, along with the major UK revival of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s hit musical Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Tony®-nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille.
www.thproductions.co.uk
SAMS Entertainment- Producer
SAMS Entertainment, founded by Tony Award–winning producers Sam Houlihan and Sam Biondolillo, is a New York–based producing company dedicated to theatre that is both artistically vibrant and accessible. The company is guided by the belief that producing should be collaborative, transparent, and rooted in trust-opening doors for new voices while supporting work that resonates with contemporary audiences.
On Broadway, the Sams have produced award‑winning productions including Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, the acclaimed revival of Merrily We Roll Along, Gutenberg! The Musical!, and Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen. Off‑Broadway, their credits include DATA at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and Prince Faggot at Studio Seaview. Beyond Broadway, SAMS’ producing work spans the United Kingdom, where credits include the UK tour of The Talented Mr. Ripley, the UK tour of Glorious!, The Frogs at Southwark Playhouse, and Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester and in Liverpool.
In addition to producing, SAMS Entertainment offers comprehensive management and consulting services. The company partners with artists and creative teams from the earliest stages of development through performance, providing structure and support that encourages both artistic freedom and financial clarity. Their model invites collaborators and investors into the creative and commercial process itself, not solely the final result, fostering an environment of openness, shared purpose, and long‑term sustainability.
Driven by a belief in the transformative power of theatre, Sam Houlihan and Sam Biondolillo are committed to creating work that inspires, challenges, and endures-building theatre for today’s audiences and for generations to come.
LISTINGS INFO
Thomas Hopkins Productions SAMS Entertainment
&
Julie Larson
proudly present
The Jonathan Larson Project
Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper
By arrangement with
Music Theatre International
Directed by John Simpkins
Southwark Playhouse Borough
77-85 Newington Causeway
London SE1 6BD
Thursday 9 July – Saturday 22 August, 2026
7pm Monday Saturday
2.30pm Matinee Tuesday & Saturday
How To Get There: The nearest stations are
Borough and Elephant & Castle
Tickets are available from: www.jonathanlarson.co.uk
Instagram: @jonathanlarsonproject
Ticket Prices: £10 – £35
Age Guidance: 12+
Running time: 90 mins (no interval)