One of the West End’s biggest producers, Sonia Friedman, has announced major personnel changes at her Sonia Friedman Productions company.
Current Executive Director Diane Benjamin is stepping back from the company after twenty-five years, leaving in January 2026, but staying on as a consultant. Friedman and Benjamin first worked together at the National Theatre.
She will be replaced by the National Theatre’s Kash Bennett, who joins Sonia Friedman Productions as Executive Director from late September 2025.
Kash Bennett is currently Executive Producer of National Theatre Productions, and is President of the Society of London Theatre.
Over the last 10 years at the National Theatre Bennett has produced and overseen over 40 transfers, including current West End play Till the Stars Come Down at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and forthcoming high-profile transfer The Importance of Being Earnest starring Stephen Fry and Olly Alexander.
The Importance of Being Earnest is being produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions.
Other shows Kash Bennett has been responsible for transferring to the West End and beyond include The Lehman Trilogy, The Motive and the Cue, Dear England, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, and Ocean at the End of the Lane.
Before joining the National Theatre as Producer, Bennett was Head of Production for Stage Entertainment UK and oversaw shows in the West End and on tour including I Can’t Sing! (Palladium Theatre), Made in Dagenham (Adelphi Theatre), Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre), Singin’ in the Rain (Palace Theatre and UK tour) and UK tours of Hairspray, Sister Act and Oliver!.
The National Theatre announced last month that Kash Bennett is leaving the National in September.
The Stage reported last week that the National Theatre is cutting the staff of its commercial arm, National Theatre Productions, responsible for transferring shows, by 70% from 24 people to 7. The National has emphasised that Bennett’s departure is not connected to their restructure.
Sonia Friedman Productions in the West End
Producer Sonia Friedman’s current West End shows include Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s Theatre, The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Mrs Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre.
Coming up Friedman is producing The Importance of Being Earnest starring Stephen Fry at the Noel Coward Theatre, and Paddington The Musical at the Savoy Theatre. She will also produce Conor McPherson’s new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard starring Kristin Scott Thomas.
UK tours produced by Sonia Friedman Productions include Mean Girls, and Sunny Afternoon.
What They Said
Sonia Friedman said in a statement: “It’s impossible to sum up what Diane Benjamin has meant to me and to Sonia Friedman Productions over the past 25 years. She is a true one-off – the very best in the business when it comes to overseeing a large, international producing theatre company. When she joined, there were just three of us; today, we produce and co-produce 10, 15, sometimes 20 shows a year around the world and our work employ thousands of people annually and is seen by many millions. That transformation is in no small part thanks to Diane’s brilliance, her courage, her unshakable integrity, her loyalty, and her fierce commitment to doing things properly. She is a leader, a mentor, a friend – known for her great kindness, her generosity of spirit, and her fierce dedication. She is utterly irreplaceable, and I honestly can’t imagine this company without her. But change is inevitable. Happily, she won’t be disappearing entirely – she’ll remain close and continue to advise us as a consultant – but this marks the end of an extraordinary era. I will miss her more than I can say. We are very privileged to have the indefatigable Kash Bennett join SFP, taking up the role of Executive Director from the end of next month. Her incredible track record speaks for itself, and as we evolve to the next phase in our company’s life her brilliance, passion, unique experience and tenacity will prove both an essential and inspirational addition to our team.”
Diane Benjamin said: “2026 marks 25 years of working with Sonia Friedman and SFP, during which time it has been the honour of my career to have been part of some of the most ground-breaking, inspirational and extraordinary productions worldwide. From Boeing-Boeing to The Nether and Jerusalem, from The Book of Mormon to Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, it has been a joy to work alongside the best in the industry, to work side by side with Sonia and the entire amazing team at SFP. They are the most caring, dedicated and passionate group of people I could have had the good fortune to work with. I look forward to continuing my relationship with SFP and the wider industry, as I move to the next stage in my career.”
Kash Bennett said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Sonia Friedman Productions. SFP’s reputation for bold, brilliant, world-class theatre is second to none, and I’m thrilled to be working alongside such an extraordinary team. It’s no secret that I have long admired Sonia – she is an exceptional producer with exquisite taste – and I can’t wait to collaborate with her to bring groundbreaking stories to the stage and share them with audiences around the world.”
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