The UK premiere of Little Dancer – A New Musical In Concert has been announced for one night only at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 27 July 2025.
Inspired by the true story behind Edgar Degas’ iconic sculpture, Little Dancer has already captivated audiences in Washington D.C. and Seattle with sold-out runs and critical acclaim.
The musical features a powerhouse creative team, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning duo behind Ragtime, Anastasia, and Once on This Island.
Direction and choreography come from the legendary Susan Stroman, a two-time Olivier and five-time Tony Award winner known for The Producers, Crazy for You, and Contact.
Tiler Peck, principal dancer with New York City Ballet and star of the new TV series Étoile, will reprise her role as Young Marie van Goethem.
Joining her on stage will be Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, Bridgerton) as Edgar Degas, and Laura Pitt-Pulford (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Emmerdale) as Adult Marie.
Set in the gritty backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet, Little Dancer tells the story of Marie van Goethem, a young ballerina navigating poverty and ambition in 19th-century Paris.
Susan Stroman said:
“I find Little Dancer to be a life-affirming piece of theater. It was certainly inspiring and uplifting to create. To me, the show is beautiful, entertaining, interesting, but most importantly, profound. Marie wanted to be a great dancer, and inadvertently, through art, became the most famous dancer in the world.”
Lynn Ahrens added:
“For a writer, finding a story that’s never been told is like striking gold. Little Dancer is one of those rare stories: an unknown girl, a famous artist, and a work of art that rocked the world. It’s an absolute thrill to bring this work to the London stage and I can’t wait for our audience to experience it.”
Stephen Flaherty said:
“The musical world of Little Dancer is rich, evocative and romantic. Its music sweeps you into the magical world of Edgar Degas and the Paris Opera Ballet. It’s been my absolute pleasure to create this world with my collaborators, and we are thrilled it will be coming to London’s historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane this summer in concert!”
The production is presented by Anita Waxman Productions, Tegan Summer Theatricals, Shea Theatricals, Patricia R. Klausner & Sharon Carr, with casting by Jill Green Casting and general management by Anthology Theatre Productions.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
