Kiss Me, Kate | 2024 revival with Stephanie J Block | Rehearsal interviews

We sit down with the cast and director of Kiss Me, Kate, starring Stephanie J Block and Adrian Dunbar.
Hailed as Cole Porter’s greatest musical comedy, the production is set for a 15-week run at London’s Barbican Theatre starting next month on 4 June 2024, with a press night scheduled for 18 June, concluding on 14 September.
Also appearing are Charlie Stemp (Crazy for You) as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, while Georgina Onuorah (The Wizard of Oz) will play Lois Lane/Bianca, alongside two WhatsOnStage Award-winners - Nigel Lindsay (An Enemy of the People) and Hammed Animashaun (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) who play the famous gangster pairing in the show, Peter Davison (Dr Who) as the General, Josie Benson (as Hattie), Jack Butterworth (as Paul) and Jude Owusu (as Harry Trevor/Baptista), Carl Au (as Hortensio/Ensemble), Jordan Crouch (as Gremio/Ensemble), Gary Milner (as Ralph/Ensemble) and James Hume (as Pops/Ensemble).
Completing the company are Alisha Capon, Shani Cantor, Maya de Faria, Amelia Kinu Muus, Jacqui Jameson, Lucas Koch, Alex Lodge, Nell Martin, Anna McGarahan, John Stacey and Harrison Wilde. Swings are Robin Kent, Barry Drummond, Emily Goodenough and Maddie Harper.
Directed in a new production by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, the musical showcases a score by Porter and a book by Sam and Bella Spewack. Notably, this revival reunites producing team members behind successful shows such as Anything Goes and A Strange Loop, both at the Barbican.
The creative team also includes Anthony Van Laast as choreographer, Michael Yeargan as set designer, Catherine Zuber as costume designer, Donald Holder as lighting designer, Adam Fisher as sound designer, and Stephen Ridley as music supervisor. Casting is by Serena Hill.
The show follows onstage and off-stage antics of a theatre company attempting to produce a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. It includes numbers such as “Another Op’nin’, Another Show”, “Too Darn Hot”, “Tom, Dick or Harry” and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”.

[@stacyc4287]

Love SJB and wish I could get to London for this! Lucky Brits! Always such a freakin joy to watch.

[@catherineandrewartha8913]

Saw this at the Barbican and I loved it so much that I have booked up for us to see it again in August. Brilliant cast, brilliant acting and superb singing. Wunderbar!

[@entertainer1987]

I saw Stephanie in both 'Wicked' and 'Into the Woods'. She was simply fantastic in both shows. I'm glad that London audiences will now see her wonderful acting and hear her incredible voice.

[@nanite53]

This is so exciting! 🤟🏽

[@gellerbingsgaming]

I'm currently rehearsing for this as part of the ensemble in our local theatre. Wish I could watch this in London to see how the professionals do it ❤

[@woodypride5497]

Jack Butterworth stole the show

[@Pheebs77]

3:40 this here is the problem. Stop trying to remake EVERYTHING for "modern audiences" for goodness sake. Kiss Me Kate is a classic, Old Hollywood movie musical with stunning dance routines and a perfect cast. And what do you do? Cast an OAP as Fred and turn Too Darn Hot into a group dance number instead of the fantastic solo made famous by Ann Miller. Really???? I adore the film and I adore the Singin in the Rain film too, and the theatre productions of both of these are just an insult.

[@organboi]

Agreed. Now I don't want to see this. I totally believe you.

[@organboi]

Not convinced.

[@BroadwayGuy]

You can tell by his body language that Barlett Sher is not comfortable when Stephanie is speaking and he is not.