“COLE PORTER’S GREATEST MUSICAL COMEDY”
Playbill
EXTRA FINAL PERFORMANCE
AND SUMMER MATINEES ADDED
NEW POST SHOW TALKS WITH
OTI MABUSE, ARLENE PHILLIPS AND AMY HART
“The ultimate Broadway musical from the golden age”
Financial Times
THE FIVE STAR MUSICAL
Starring
Music and Lyrics by COLE PORTER
Book by SAM AND BELLA SPEWACK
Directed by Tony Award Winner BARTLETT SHER
BARBICAN THEATRE
FROM 4 JUNE 2024
STRICTLY LIMITED ENGAGEMENT UNTIL 14 SEPTEMBER
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM KISSMEKATEMUSICAL.COM
With just eight weeks left of its summer residency, this is the last chance for audiences to see the critically acclaimed musical KISS ME, KATE, as the smash hit five-star Cole Porter sensation at London’s Barbican Theatre must close on 14 September. Described by the Daily Mail as “sexy and sassy” with “great songs, hot dancing and smart gags”, such is the demand for tickets that an extra performance has been added to the final week of the three-month run on Tuesday 10 September at 7.30pm.
In addition to the extra performances two exclusive post show events have also been added to the final weeks of this spectacular show.
Another Op’nin, Another Show – In conversation with Charlie Stemp, Georgina Onuorah and Hammed Animashaun. Musical theatre enthusiast Amy Hart will chat with cast members of Kiss Me, Kate about their own personal opening night rituals, their superstitions, what’s in their dressing rooms and what it’s like to form a new family of theatre folk! This talk will take place following the 7:30pm performance on Wednesday 7 August. Entry is free to ticket holders for that performance.
5, 6, 7, 8 In conversation with Leading West End Choreographers – A fascinating and thrilling discussion about choreography in the world of West End musicals, hosted by Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse with guests Arlene Phillips and choreographer of Kiss Me, Kate Anthony Van Laast. This talk will take place following the 2:30pm performance on Tuesday 27 August. Entry is free to ticket holders for that performance.
This “showstopper of a musical” (City AM) continues to thrill audiences with its “exhilarating” (The Guardian) performances from multi-award-winning Adrian Dunbar, described by The i as “a revelation” in his musical theatre debut as Fred Graham / Petruchio and Broadway musical superstar and Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block who “commands the stage and makes every note sing” (Time Out) in her West End debut as Lilli Vanessi / Katharine.
They star alongside Charlie Stemp (Crazy For You, Mary Poppins) as Bill Calhoun and rising star Georgina Onuorah (The Wizard of Oz / Oklahoma!) as Lois Lane / Bianca. Hammed Animashaun (A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Black Ops) and Nigel Lindsay (Victoria / Shrek The Musical) are the singing hilarious gangsters and acting legend Peter Davison (Dr Who / All Creatures Great and Small) plays the role of the General in this “sizzling summer hit” (Daily Telegraph).
Producer Howard Panter said: “I am thrilled with the universally positive response we have enjoyed from both audiences and critics alike. Our stellar cast really are delivering this summer’s biggest and best musical – and receiving standing ovations at every show. The demand for tickets is so high that we have now added an additional performance to our final week. This really is the hottest show in the West End right now.”
Director Bartlett Sher (The King and I, South Pacific and To Kill A Mockingbird) has brought together an all-star creative team who have collectively won a remarkable 20 Tony awards between them. The dynamic team includes renowned choreographer Anthony Van Laast, accomplished costume designer Catherine Zuber and leading set designer Michael Yeargan. With music and lyrics by Cole Porter and the original book by Bella & Samuel Spewack, this new production promises a symphony of wit, charm and musical brilliance. Featuring a company of over 50, including a full-scale orchestra, they perform Cole Porter classics such as ‘Another Op’nin’, Another Show’, ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’, ‘Tom, Dick or Harry’ and ‘It’s Too Darn Hot’ – KISS ME, KATE is the perfect musical spectacle.
The musical farce which brilliantly showcases Cole Porter’s razor-sharp wit, won Best Musical at the Tony Awards. It’s a sophisticated, ferociously funny, show within a show – which whisks you into a world of backstage chaos and romantic entanglements as a theatre company attempt to put on a production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. The battle of the sexes takes centre stage as former spouses feud, only to find the off- stage antics rival the drama on-stage. Throw in a number of cases of mistaken identity, confused love, gangsters and a spectacular tap routine and you get…KISS ME, KATE.
CREATIVE TEAM
Bartlett Sher – Director
Anthony Van Laast – Choreographer
Michael Yeargan – Set Designer
Catherine Zuber – Costume Designer
Donald Holder – Lighting Designer
Adam Fisher – Sound Designer
Stephen Ridley – Music Supervisor
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Barbican Theatre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Final performance: 14th September 2024
Running time: Approx 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)
Age guidance: 10+
Tickets from £29.50
Barbican Box Office: Barbican.org.uk or 020 7870 2500
(Telephone lines open Monday to Friday, 12.00 – 5.30pm)
Website: KissMeKateMusical.com
X: @KissMeKateUK
Facebook: @KissMeKateUK
Instagram: @KissMeKateUK
Access Performances:
Saturday 10 August, 2.30pm (Touch Tour 12.30pm)
Captioned: Saturday 17 August, 2.30pm
BSL interpreted: Saturday 24 August, 2.30pm
Presented in association with the Barbican