High Society - Bromley Tickets

British springtime is an unreliable thing, one week you’re panic buying cornettos, the next you’re knee deep in puddles. While we’re never quite sure what the weather outside will be like, we now know where you will feel guaranteed sunshine and warmth: High Society at the Barbican. I never thought I was a fan of golden age musicals, but this production has proved me wrong - it is a pure joy-filled experience, which left a goofy smile on my face throughout. If you’ve seen the iconic film starring Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra then you’ll know the story, but if you haven’t (firstly, why not? It’s been 70 years) let us fill you in.  The musical follows socialite Tracy Lord (Helen George) as she prepares to marry the very respectable (and very dull) George Kittredge (David Seadon-Young). The only problem? Her charming ex-husband Dexter Haven (Julian Ovenden) is back on the scene, and he’s brought with him a pair of journalists; Mike (Freddie Fox) and Liz (Carly Mercedes Dyer). The wedding crashers threaten to upend the ceremony, and Tracy surprises herself by wondering if that wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all.  The champagne soaked evening is a riot, with one liners so dry they should be served in a martini glass. Freddie Fox makes his musical theatre debut as journalist, and "author of one book”, Mike. He is goofy, charming and utterly loveable in the role, a far cry from the arrogant and sleazy characters he usually plays on TV. He can really sing too! His numbers, notably his duets with Carly Mercedes Dyer and Julian Ovenden, are packed with humour and heart. He has a twinkle in his eye, and it’s easy to see why Tracy may be swayed.

The guestlist for the most swell party of the year has been confirmed, and it features some serious VIPs. Freddie Fox (Slow Horses) and Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey) will join the previously announced leads Helen George (Call the Midwife) and Felicity Kendal (Rosemary and Thyme) for this summer’s revival of Cole Porter’s musical, High Society. They are joined by Carly Mercedes Dyer (A Chorus Line), Nigel Lindsay (Kiss Me, Kate), and Malcolm Sinclair (Pie in the Sky).  Completing the cast are Naomi Pacquette (Dinah Lord), David Seadon-Young (George Kittredge), James Hume (Chester, Butler), alongside ensemble members; Bethany Adamson, David Austin-Barnes, Jabari Braham, George Bray, Andrew Coshan, Jordan Crouch, Frances Dee, Aaron Elijah, Tosca Fischer, Jacob Fisher, Heather Jackson, Aoife Kenny, Nell Martin, Isabel Snaas and swings; Thomas Inge (dance captain), Robin Kent, Imogen Bailey and Lucy Rice. 

Helen George is an English actress whose career spans television, musical theatre and live performance. Born in Birmingham in June 1984 and raised in Winchester, she trained as a ballet dancer from a young age, joining the Birmingham Royal Ballet as a child. Her path into acting was set at 15, after seeing Les Misérables and deciding she wanted a life in musical theatre. George went on to train at both the Birmingham School of Acting and the Royal Academy of Music. Her professional career began almost immediately after graduating, landing her first role just two weeks later as the Woman in White. Alongside acting, she has also worked as a backing singer, including touring with Elton John — a rare crossover that reflects her strong musical credentials. Where have you seen her before? Helen George is best known to millions as Trixie Franklin in the BBC drama Call the Midwife. Joining the series alongside Pam Ferris, her portrayal of the warm, stylish and emotionally complex nurse quickly made her one of the show’s most beloved characters. The role has defined much of her television career and introduced her to a wide, multi-generational audience. George has appeared across British television, with credits including Hollyoaks, Hotel Babylon, Doctors, Red Dwarf, and the family film Nativity Rocks.

Felicity Kendal has been a defining presence in British theatre and television for more than five decades. Born in the West Midlands, she grew up touring with her family’s repertory company in India before returning to the UK in her teens. Instead of formal drama school, Kendal’s training was shaped by the stage itself; she learned her craft through constant performance, observation, and the discipline of repertory theatre. Her long-standing professional relationship with playwright Tom Stoppard became a defining thread in her career. The two worked together repeatedly from the early 1980s onwards, and Kendal originated roles in several of Stoppard’s major plays, establishing one of modern theatre’s most significant actor-writer collaborations. Along the way, she earned multiple honours, including a BAFTA nomination, the Clarence Derwent Award, and the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress. In 1995 she received a CBE for her services to Drama. Where have you seen her before? Kendal’s stage career flourished through the 1980s and 1990s, particularly through her close association with Tom Stoppard. She starred in the first productions of On the Razzle, The Real Thing, Hapgood, and Arcadia, roles that showcased her precision, timing, and intellectual lightness. She also became one of director Peter Hall’s most frequent collaborators, appearing in ten of his productions. Her roles ranged from Constanze Mozart in Amadeus to Esme in Amy’s View, demonstrating her ability to effortlessly, and successfully, move between period drama, contemporary writing. Outside the theatre, millions know her as Rosemary Boxer in the cosy crime drama Rosemary & Thyme.  

High Society revival stars Helen George and Felicity Kendal Playing at the Barbican Theatre, London, from 19 May to 11 July 2026. Buy tickets from us  from 11am on Monday, 8 December 2025    Helen George and Felicity Kendal are set to star in a dazzling new revival of High Society at the Barbican Theatre in London. The production opens 19 May 2026 and runs for a strictly limited eight-week season until 11 July 2026, before heading out on a UK tour. This marks the first large-scale London staging of Cole Porter’s classic musical in over a decade. Who’s starring in High Society? Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I, Strictly Come Dancing) plays the glamorous socialite Tracy Lord, a role made famous by Grace Kelly in the 1956 film. She is joined by stage and screen favourite Felicity Kendal (Indian Ink, Noises Off, The Good Life) as Tracy’s mother, Mother Lord. Kendal returns to the Barbican following her acclaimed performance in Anything Goes in 2021. Additional casting will be announced soon. When and where is High Society playing? The show runs at Barbican Theatre, London, from 19 May to 11 July 2026, offering a limited opportunity to experience this Golden Age musical live on the West End stage.