First look at South Pacific ahead of tour and London run

Here’s your first look at the upcoming revival of South Pacific coming to London and on tour!

The Chichester Festival Theatre production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical will open at Manchester Opera House on 16 July 2022 ahead of a season at Sadler’s Wells, London from 27 July to 28 August 2022.

The show will then tour to visiting Dublin, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Canterbury.

SOUTH PACIFIC. Rob Houchen Lieutenant Robert Cable and Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Rob Houchen Lieutenant Robert Cable and Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Julian Ovenden Emile de Becque. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Julian Ovenden Emile de Becque. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Joanna Ampil Bloody Mary and Rob Houchen Lieutenant Robert Cable. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Joanna Ampil Bloody Mary and Rob Houchen Lieutenant Robert Cable. Photo by Johan Persson

South Pacific stars Julian Ovenden as Emile de Becque alongside Gina Beck as Ensign Nellie Forbush, Rob Houchen as Lieutenant Joseph Cable, Joanna Ampil as Bloody Mary and Sera Maehara as Liat. They are joined by David Birrell as Captain George Brackett, Stephen John Davis as Commander William Harbison, Antoine Murray-Straughan as Stewpot, Charlie Waddell as Professor and Olly Christopher as Sergeant Johnson.

The role of Luther Billis will now be played by Douggie McMeekin who replaces the previously announced Lee Ross. Pierce Rogan will play the role at certain performances.

The cast is completed by Iroy Abesamis, Feline Andersson, Charlotte Coggin, Annabel Edwards, Leslie Garcia Bowman, Sergio Giacomelli, Ellie Jane Grant, Josh Kiernan, Matthew Maddison, Rachel Jayne Picar, Kate Playdon, George Renshaw, Pierce Rogan, Charlotte Scott, Trezel Sergeant, Nikhil Singh Rai, James Wilkinson-Jones and Eleanor Wainwright.

This powerful love story, set on a South Pacific Island during World War ll is brought thrillingly to life with a sensational cast of over thirty and a full orchestra in this epic new five-star production directed by Chichester Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Daniel Evans.

South Pacific boasts one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most memorable scores, and this much-loved Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening”, “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and “Bali Ha’i”.

South Pacific tickets, dates & venues »

SOUTH PACIFIC. Julian Ovenden Emile de Becque and Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Julian Ovenden Emile de Becque and Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush and Julian Ovenden Emile de Becque. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush and Julian Ovenden Emile de Becque. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush. Photo by Johan Persson
SOUTH PACIFIC. Gina Beck Ensign Nellie Forbush. Photo by Johan Persson

The production has set and costume design by Peter McKintosh, and choreography and movement direction from Ann Yee. The Musical Supervisor is Nigel Lilley, Musical Director is Cat Beveridge and new orchestration is by David Cullen, with original Broadway orchestration by Robert Russell Bennett. The lighting designer is Howard Harrison, sound designer is Paul Groothuis, video designer is Gillian Tan, additional arrangements and Happy Talk orchestration is by Theo Jamieson, casting director is Charlotte Sutton CDG and additional children’s casting by Verity Naughton.

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.