The National Theatre has announced full casting for the festive return of Ballet Shoes, Kendall Feaver’s acclaimed adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s best-selling novel.
Directed by Katy Rudd, Ballet Shoes will run in the Olivier Theatre from 17 November 2025 to 21 February 2026, forming part of Indhu Rubasingham’s inaugural season as Director and Co-CEO.
Joining the previously announced cast are ensemble members Julie Armstrong, Shailan Gohil and Mark Hammersley.
They join Sienna Arif-Knights as Petrova Fossil, Raj Bajaj as Jai, Rosie Boore in the Ensemble, Eryck Brahmania as Prince, Chrissy Brooke as Young Manoff/Ballerina/Ensemble, Nina Cassells as Pauline Fossil, Luke Cinque-White as Flyman, Pandora Colin as Dr Jakes, Stephanie Elstob as a Swing, Sebastian Goffin as a Swing, Georges Hann as Flyman, Nadine Higgin as Theo, Gracie Hodson-Prior as Winifred, Anoushka Lucas as Sylvia, Scarlett Monahan as Posy Fossil, Kaitlyn Moore in the Ensemble, Lesley Nicol as Nana, Anu Ogunmefun in the Ensemble, Suzy Osadchyi as a Swing, Xolisweh Ana Richards as Katerina Federovksy, Justin Salinger as Great Uncle Matthew/Fidolia/Mr French/Mr Sholsky/Madame Manoff and Katie Singh in the Ensemble.
This “playful, graceful adaptation” (★★★★★ Financial Times) “never puts a foot wrong” (★★★★★ London Standard), and has delighted audiences of all ages.
Ballet Shoes tells the story of three adopted sisters – Pauline, Petrova and Posy – who are discovering who they are and what they want to be in a crumbling house full of dinosaur bones and fossils.
Under the guidance of their guardian Sylvia, Nana, and a group of eccentric lodgers, the girls pursue their passions in a world that wasn’t built for ambitious women.
The creative team includes set designer Frankie Bradshaw, costume designer Samuel Wyer, choreographer Ellen Kane, composer Asaf Zohar, dance arrangements and orchestrations by Gavin Sutherland, lighting designer Paule Constable, sound designer Ian Dickinson for Autograph, video designer Ash J Woodward, illusions by Chris Fisher, casting directors Bryony Jarvis-Taylor CDG and Martin Poile CDG, classical coach Cira Robinson, dialect coach Penny Dyer, voice coaches Cathleen McCarron and Zoe Littleton, associate choreographer Luke Cinque-White, associate lighting designer Imogen Clarke and staff director Jasmine Teo.
The National Theatre will once again collaborate with Coram, the UK’s first and longest continuing children’s charity, throughout the run of Ballet Shoes.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
