FIRST LOOK: Standing At The Sky's Edge, Gillian Lynne Theatre, London

The National Theatre and Various Productions released production images for the West End premiere of Sheffield Theatre's smash-hit production, Standing at the Sky's Edge. 

The company. Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg Written as a love letter to Sheffield and the city's iconic Park Hill Estate, this 2023 Olivier Award-winning 'Best New Musical' is directed by Sheffield Theatres' Artistic Director, Robert Hastie and features songs by the legendary Sheffield singer-songwriter, Richard Hawley.  With a hilarious and gut-wrenching book by Chris Bush, Standing at the Sky's Edge charts the hopes and dreams of three generations over the course of six tumultuous decades, navigating universal themes of love, loss and survival. This new British musical is currently playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until 3 August 2024. BOOK TICKETS FOR STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE

The company. Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg The cast includes, Jonathan Andre (Macbeth, Shakespeare's Globe; The Lion King, Disney) playing the role of Max, Elizabeth Ayodele (Small Island, National Theatre; Steel Magnolias, Trafalgar Theatre Productions) playing the role of Joy, Jonathon Bentley (From Here to Eternity, Aria Entertainment; MAMMA MIA!, Littlestar) playing the role of Gary, Mya Fox-Scott is making her professional debut, playing the role of Jenny, Joel Harper-Jackson (Cock, Elliot & Harper Productions; Kinky Boots, Adam Blanshay Productions) playing the role of Harry, Sharlene Hector (A Strange Loop, Trafalgar Theatre Productions/National Theatre; Hairspray, Adam Spiegal Productions/Fiery Angel) playing the role of Grace, Samuel Jordan (Masters of the Air, Apple TV; Sex Education, Netflix) is reprising the role of Jimmy, Rachael Louise Miller (Les Misérables, Cameron Mackintosh; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Bill Kenwright Productions) is reprising the role of Cathy, Mel Lowe (Orlando, The Michael Grandage Company; A Billion Times I Love You, Homotopia/Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse) playing the role of Connie, David McKechnie (Flowers for Mrs Harris, Riverside Studios; Stepping Out, Stephen Joseph Theatre) is reprising the role of Joe/Workman, Baker Mukasa (The Comedy of Errors, Royal Shakespeare Company; Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Stage Entertainment) reprising the role of George, Alastair Natkiel (Line of Duty, BBC; Strangers on a Train, Barbara Broccoli) reprising the role of Marcus, Laura Pitt-Pulford (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre; Emmerdale, ITV) playing the role of Poppy, Adam Price (Privates on Parade, Michael Grandage Company; Hairspray, Stage Entertainment) is reprising the role of Charles, Lauryn Redding (Bloody Elle, Rebel Productions/Royal Exchange) playing the role of Nikki, Nicola Sloane (Backstairs Billy, Michael Grandage Company; London Road, National Theatre) is reprising the role of Vivienne, Lillie-Pearl Wildman (Sunset Boulevard, Jamie Lloyd Theatre Company; Cabaret; ATG/Underbelly) is playing the role of Justine, and Rachael Wooding (Pretty Woman: The Musical, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions; We Will Rock You, Queen Theatrical Productions/Phil McIntyre/Tribeca Theatrical Productions) is reprising the role of Rose. They are joined by Monique Ashe-Palmer, Adam Colbeck-Dunn, Viquichele Cross, Jamie Doncaster, Caroline Fitzgerald, Jerome Lincoln, Sean McLevy and Karen Wilkinson.

The company. Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

The young company completing the cast are, Alayna Anderson, Luca Foster-Lejeune, Renée Hart, Eric Madgwick, Chioma Nduka, and Sam Stocks.

The company. Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Robert Hastie is joined by set and costume designer, Ben Stones; choreographer, Lynne Page; orchestrator and arranger, originating music supervisor, Tom Deering; lighting designer, Mark Henderson; sound designer, Bobby Aitken; wigs, hair and make-up designer, Cynthia De La Rosa, casting director, Stuart Burt CDG, children's casting director, Chloe Blake, dialect coaches Michaela Kennen and Shereen Ibrahim. Associate director is Elin Schofield, associate choreographer is Thomas Herron, musical director and associate music supervisor is Alex Beetschen, associate sound designer is Jonas Roebuck and associate costume designer is Sally Wilson.

Sharlene Hector (Grace). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg Standing at the Sky's Edge is a multi-award-winning production, winning 'Best New Musical' at the 2023 Olivier Awards with Sheffield singer-songwriter, Richard Hawley and Tom Deering also winning 'Best Original Score and New Orchestrations'.  It was recently awarded the internationally recognised 'Made in Sheffield'® accolade, the first time a theatre production has received this unique trademark.  Previously it has won the 2020 South Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre and 'Best Musical Production' at the UK Theatre Awards in 2019.

Samuel Jordan (Jimmy). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg First commissioned by Sheffield Theatres and Various Productions, Standing at the Sky's Edge had its world premiere at the Crucible Theatre in 2019. Following a hugely successful, sold-out run, it returned to the Crucible Theatre in December 2022, selling out again, before making its London premiere in the National Theatre's Olivier theatre in early 2023 where it continued to sell out and receive standing ovations.

Lauryn Redding (Nikki), Laura Pitt Pulford (Penny) and cast. Photo: Brainkhoff Moegenburg

Lauryn Redding (Nikki). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Laura Pitt Pulford (Poppy) Elizabeth Ayodele (Joy) and Rachael Wooding (Rosie). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Laura Pitt Pulford (Poppy) and Luryn Redding (Nikki). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Joel Harper Jackson (Harry). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Joel Harper Jackson (Harry) and Alastair Natkiel (Marcus) Photo: Brinhoff Moegenburg

Elizabeth Ayodete (Joy) and Samuel Jordan (Jimmy). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Elizabeth Ayodele (Joy) and Samuel Jordan (Jimmy). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Baker Mukasa (George) and Elizabeth Ayodele (Joy). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Alastair Natkiel (Marcus) and Laura Pitt Pulfoird (Poppy). Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg Revealing the history of modern Britain, through the stories of this iconic housing estate, Standing at the Sky's Edge, is a heartfelt exploration of the power of community and what it is we all call home.