Orange Tree Theatre has announced the full cast for Cranford, the new adaptation by Lin Coghlan and Shaun McKenna, based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s classic novel and co-created and directed by Josh Roche.
Joining the previously announced Tamsin Greig as Matty Jenkyns are Sara Crowe as Mrs Forester, Abigail Cruttenden as Deborah Jenkyns and Lady Glenmire, Saffron Dey as Martha and Young Matty, Alexandra Gilbreath as Miss Pole, Jonny Glynn, Michael Lumsden, Robert Merriam, Sara Powell and Phoebe Pryce.
Cranford will begin previews at Richmond’s Orange Tree Theatre on 3 November 2026 ahead of an official opening night on 13 November, with performances continuing until 16 January 2027.
Set in a small English town in the 1840s, the story follows Matty Jenkyns and the formidable women at the heart of a close-knit community where customs and tradition shape daily life. As the outside world begins to change, the residents of Cranford must navigate shifting relationships, lost love and the challenge of adapting while holding on to what matters most.
The production is adapted by Lin Coghlan and Shaun McKenna, whose previous collaboration with director Josh Roche on The Forsyte Saga was acclaimed at the RSC. Gaskell’s 1853 novel remains one of the most celebrated works of Victorian fiction, praised for its warmth, humour and keen observations of everyday life.
The creative team includes Josh Roche as director, Natalie Johnson as set and costume designer, Jamie Platt as lighting designer, Max Pappenheim as sound designer and composer, Jacob Sparrow as casting consultant, Charlotte Rogers as assistant director and Evelien Van Camp as associate costume designer.
The cast includes Sara Crowe, Abigail Cruttenden, Saffron Dey, Alexandra Gilbreath, Jonny Glynn, Tamsin Greig, Michael Lumsden, Robert Merriam, Sara Powell and Phoebe Pryce.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
