Jinkx Monsoon to Star in Oh, Mary! in the West End as Mary Todd Lincoln

The West End production of Oh, Mary! has just announced another sensational piece of casting. Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon will step into the role of Mary Todd Lincoln for a strictly limited six-week engagement beginning 17 August 2026. The news means that the Tony and Olivier Award-winning comedy will have showcased three headline performers in the role across its blockbuster summer season at the Trafalgar Theatre.

A Summer of Stellar Casting at the Trafalgar Theatre

The schedule for the role of Mary Todd Lincoln across the summer reads like a who's who of comedy and performance royalty. Catherine Tate, who has been earning rave reviews and packing the house since taking on the part, will continue performing until 18 July 2026. Her tenure has proved enormously popular, drawing audiences who know her from her celebrated television and stage career.

Following Tate's departure, Cole Escola will return to Oh, Mary! for a special four-week engagement running from 20 July to 15 August 2026. Escola, of course, wrote the play and originated the role of Mary Todd Lincoln during the show's acclaimed Broadway run. This limited return gives London audiences a rare chance to see the creator inhabit the character that launched the production to international fame.

Then, from 17 August to 26 September 2026, Jinkx Monsoon takes the reins. Monsoon is no stranger to the role, having played Mary Todd Lincoln on Broadway to considerable acclaim. Known for razor-sharp comic timing, powerhouse vocals, and a magnetic stage presence, Monsoon brings a wealth of theatrical experience far beyond what audiences might expect from a reality television champion. Their Broadway credits and cabaret career have established them as a formidable force in live performance.

Why Oh, Mary! Has Become a West End Phenomenon

Cole Escola's wildly inventive comedy reimagines Mary Todd Lincoln as a frustrated, would-be cabaret performer trapped in a loveless marriage with Abraham Lincoln in the weeks leading up to his assassination. The play is unapologetically absurd, deliriously funny, and surprisingly sharp in its satirical edge. It opened on Broadway to rapturous reviews and quickly became one of the hottest tickets in New York before making the transatlantic leap to London.

Since arriving at the Trafalgar Theatre, the production has extended three times already, a testament to the extraordinary demand for tickets. Its current booking period now stretches all the way to 2 January 2027. Casting for the autumn run beyond Monsoon's engagement is expected to be announced in due course, and if the pattern holds, theatregoers can expect another high-profile name to follow.

Who Is Jinkx Monsoon?

For those unfamiliar, Jinkx Monsoon (born Jerick Hoffer) won the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2013 and then returned to claim the crown on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7 in 2022, becoming one of the franchise's most celebrated winners. But Monsoon's talents extend well beyond the drag competition format. They are an accomplished stage actor with a background in musical theatre, having trained at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Their one-person cabaret shows have sold out venues across the world, and their Broadway turn in Oh, Mary! earned widespread praise from critics who noted their ability to find nuance and pathos within the show's anarchic comedy.

Monsoon's casting follows a tradition of the production attracting performers who bring utterly distinct energy to the same material. Where Tate leans into her gift for character comedy and audience rapport, and Escola channels the anarchic spirit of the play's creator, Monsoon promises a performance shaped by decades of live performance instinct and a uniquely theatrical sensibility. Each version of Mary Todd Lincoln has become an event in its own right, and that rotating-lead model has proved remarkably effective at sustaining buzz and ticket sales.

The Full Casting Timeline at a Glance

Here is the confirmed schedule for who plays Mary Todd Lincoln in the West End this summer and beyond:

Catherine Tate: now until 18 July 2026
Cole Escola: 20 July to 15 August 2026
Jinkx Monsoon: 17 August to 26 September 2026
Autumn 2026 onwards: casting to be announced

With the show now booking through to January 2027, there is plenty of time to catch the production, but the limited nature of each star's run means specific engagements are likely to sell out quickly.

A Broader Season of Exciting West End Comedy

The success of Oh, Mary! is part of a vibrant moment for comedy in the West End. Productions like The Play That Goes Wrong continue to delight audiences night after night, while newer arrivals are proving that London's appetite for sharp, inventive theatrical comedy has never been stronger. The willingness of major names from television, film, and the wider entertainment world to commit to West End runs signals the enduring prestige and excitement of performing in London's theatre district.

Should You Book?

In short, yes. Oh, Mary! has earned its reputation as one of the funniest and most talked-about shows currently playing in London. Whether you catch Catherine Tate's final performances, Cole Escola's homecoming engagement, or Jinkx Monsoon's highly anticipated run, you are in for something special. Each performer brings a completely different flavour to the same brilliantly written comedy, and repeat visits are becoming something of a trend among devoted fans.

Given the strictly limited windows for each star, booking early is strongly recommended. Monsoon's six-week run in particular is expected to generate significant demand from both the theatre community and their devoted international fanbase.

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