THE ACCLAIMED NEW MUSICAL
TO PREMIERE IN LONDON IN
JANUARY 2026
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of
Harold Fry
WEST END TRANSFER FOLLOWS
SOLD OUT RUN IN CHICHESTER
BASED ON RACHEL JOYCE’S
BEST-SELLING NOVEL
WITH MUSIC & LYRICS BY PASSENGER
STARS MARK ADDY & JENNA RUSSELL
Performances begin 29 January 2026 | Theatre Royal Haymarket,
London
Following a sold-out run, the Chichester Festival Theatre production of the 5 Star “pitch-perfect musical” (The Times) The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frytransfers to the West End. It will begin performances at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London on 29 January and run until 18 April 2026.
Priority tickets will be released on 9 September 2025 followed by general public on-sale from 10 September 2025. To sign up for priority ticket access, visit HaroldFryMusical.com
Funny, profound, deeply moving and uplifting, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a joyous new musical adapted by Rachel Joyce from her multi-million selling novel, with “a ravishing score” (The Times) by the chart-topping indie musician, Passenger (Let Her Go) and directed by Katy Rudd (Ballet Shoes, The Ocean at the End of the Lane NT/West End)). Recreating their roles are Mark Addy (The Full Monty, The Rig and Game of Thrones) as Harold and Jenna Russell (Sunday in the Park with George, Hello, Dolly) as Maureen. Further casting is yet to be announced.
Rachel Joyce said: ‘ I couldn’t be more thrilled that this joyful show has found a home in the West End. I never imagined, when I first wrote the book, that it would become a musical one day, and never in my wildest dreams did I think it might find a home in one of my favourite theatres – the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, which I have known and loved since I was a child. Passenger’s music and lyrics are perfect for this story of hope, as is Katy Rudd’s magical direction.’
Passenger added: ‘I’m delighted that our journey with Harold Fry continues, and our musical is now heading to the West End. I love Rachel’s beautiful story and resonate deeply with the characters and the journeys they go on. When I was asked to write the music and lyrics for the musical, I instantly knew that it was something that I had to be a part of. It’s been a real labour of love – not just for me, but all of the amazing people involved in the production.’
Harold Fry was never meant to be a hero. An ordinary man in an ordinary life until a letter from a long-lost friend sends him out the front door… and he keeps on walking.
From Devon’s quiet lanes to the windswept streets of Berwick-upon-Tweed, his journey becomes a pilgrimage of love, redemption, and second chances. Strangers turn into companions, kindness appears in unexpected places, and the road reveals more than Harold ever imagined. Back home, his wife Maureen begins her own journey, one that might bring them together again.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a moving celebration of the human spirit and a reminder it’s never too late to start again.
The designer is Samuel Wyer, the choreographer is Tom Jackson Greaves, arrangement orchestration and additional music is by Jeremy Holland-Smith, musical supervision and additional music is by Phil Bateman, the lighting designer is Paule Constable, the sound designers are Ian Dickinson and Gareth Tucker for Autograph, the video designer is Ash J Woodward, thecasting director is Anna Cooper CDG, the musical director is Chris Poon, the adaptation is co-created by Rachel Joyce, Peter Darling and Katy Rudd, the dramaturg is Nick Sidi andthe associate director is Jamie Manton.
Passenger recently released the first single and music video (featuring Jack Wolfe) from his new concept album based on The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. The single, Song For The Countryside, can be viewed here.
Chris Harper Productions and Nick Sidi with Len Blavatnik & Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment present the Chichester Festival Theatre production of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.