Everything you need to know about High Society in London

The first large-scale London staging of Cole Porter’s musical sensation High Society in more than a decade has begun its run at the Barbican Theatre, hailed by The Times as “the show of the summer”. It features a dazzling all-star cast, with Call The Midwife’s Helen George leading the company.

High Society harks back to the Golden Age of musicals, when champagne glasses were poured high, costumes were extravagant and scores were packed with irresistible melodies backed by a full orchestra. Its London revival is one of 2026’s must-see musical events and Cole Porter’s hit machine has proved a winning formula for the Barbican Theatre.

Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh (Shadowlands), this new production of High Society is the latest of Porter’s musicals to hit the Barbican stage in recent years, following the critical acclaimed Anything Goes (2021) and Kiss Me, Kate (2024). Join the 28-strong cast, led by Helen George (Call the Midwife), as the society wedding of the year descends into chaos. The production is backed by a cast overflowing with stars, including Felicity Kendal (The Good Life) and Freddie Fox (Slow Horses) in his musical debut.

Running until 11 July 2026 for a strictly limited season before heading on a UK and Ireland tour, this is a musical extravaganza not to be missed. Book your tickets to the party of the season and see Kendal live in London before a tour cast change.

View live availability for High Society tickets here

Key dates and venue

Theatre: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Performances: Until 11 July 2026

Tickets: On sale now

What is High Society about?

High Society follows spirited Long Island socialite Tracy Lord, whose perfectly planned wedding is thrown into chaos by the arrival of her charismatic ex-husband and a determined tabloid reporter. As romantic complications multiply and champagne flows, Tracy must confront questions of love, loyalty and who truly deserves her heart. The show is packed with Porter hits, including “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, “Let’s Misbehave”, “I Love Paris”, “Just One of Those Things” and “Well Did You Evah!”.

Audiences can expect a high-octane mix of sensational songs and laugh-out-loud moments in this classic musical comedy.

High Society - Barbican, London. Photo by Pamela Raith

High Society – Barbican, London. Photo :Pamela Raith

The history of High Society

Based on The Philadelphia Story and the much-loved MGM film, High Society remains one of Cole Porter’s most enduringly popular works. The show has music and lyrics by Cole Porter, a book by Arthur Kopit and additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, based on Philip Barry’s classic comedy of manners.

A different stage version of the show, with a book and direction by Richard Eyre and starring Natasha Richardson as socialite Tracy Lord, made its London premiere at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 1987. A reimagined Broadway version made its London debut at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2003 – a West End transfer to the Shaftesbury Theatre followed in 2005, this time with Katherine Kingsley in the title role.

In 2015, High Society was revived at London’s Old Vic to critical acclaim, with the production played in the round and directed by three-time Olivier Award-winning Maria Friedman (Passion, Ragtime, The Sound of Music). More than a decade on, High Society has made a dazzling return to London at the Barbican Theatre – with fresh direction from Rachel Kavanaugh (Shadowlands). It follows rave reviews of Cole Porter musicals Anything Goes (2021) and Kiss Me, Kate (2024) at the Barbican Theatre.

Who is in High Society?

The cast includes:

Tracy Lord: Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I) – The spirited Long Island socialite whose perfectly planned wedding is thrown into chaos.
Mother Lord: Felicity Kendal (The Good Life, Anything Goes) – Tracy’s wry and worldly mother (Barbican only).
Mike Connor: Freddie Fox (Slow Horses, House of the Dragon) – A charismatic and unpredictable undercover journalist.
Dexter Haven: Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, Bridgerton) – The suave, pining ex-husband of Tracy.
Liz Imbrie: Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anything Goes, A Chorus Line) – A sharp-witted journalist (Barbican only).
Uncle Willie: Nigel Lindsay (Mobland, The Capture) as Uncle Willie – Tracy’s charmingly roguish and absent-minded uncle.
George Kittredge: David Seadon-Young – Tracy’s square and pretentious fiancé.

Freddie Fox as Mike Connor in High Society. Photo: Pamela Raith

Freddie Fox makes his musical theatre debut

Freddie Fox has received critical acclaim for his West End musical theatre debut in High Society as undercover journalist Mike Connor. It marks an exciting new chapter for the actor who has starred in hit TV shows including Slow Horses and House of the Dragon. He brings versatility to the stage with screen credits that have firmly established him as one of his generation’s most compelling performers.

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter

Born in 1891, the American composer and lyricist Cole Porter wrote his first operetta aged 10 and was, by all accounts, a musical prodigy. After attending Yale, where he wrote several school songs which are still popular today, Porter’s wealthy grandfather persuaded him to study at Harvard Law School. He lasted just two years before transferring to the School of Arts and Science to study music. His first musical, See America First, premiered on Broadway in 1916 and it was a box-office flop, closing after only 15 performances. But he soon found his groove and achieved Broadway success with early-career hit musical comedies Paris and Fifty Million Frenchmen in the 1920s.

His best-known stage shows include High Society, Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate – all performed at the Barbican Theatre in recent years. In Hollywood, he scored the hit 1956 film High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly. Many world-famous artists have recorded Porter’s songs, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and, more recently, Lady Gaga and U2.

The creative team

Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter
Book: Arthur Kopit
Additional Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead
Based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry
Director: Rachel Kavanaugh (Shadowlands, Half a Sixpence, The Great British Bake Off Musical)
Choreographer: Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia!).
Musical Supervisor and Director: Stephen Ridley
Set Designer: Tom Rogers
Costume Designer: Jon Morrell
Lighting Designer: Howard Hudson
Sound Designer: Adam Fisher
Wig, Hair & Make Up Designer: Helen Keane for Campbell Young Associates
Casting Director: Serena Hill
Arrangements: Gareth Valentine
Orchestrations: Larry Blank
Orchestrations / Copying: Mark Cumberland
Additional Book Material: Bob Martin

Screen history

High Society is based on Philip Barry’s 1939 Broadway play The Philadelphia Story, inspired by the Philadelphia socialite Helen Hope Montgomery Scott. It was adapted into an Oscar-winning 1940 film starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart – establishing the sharp-witted comedy and romantic triangle that later versions would keep.

The material was then transformed into the 1956 musical film High Society, with Hollywood star power from Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Cole Porter’s score turned the story into a glossy musical comedy with a light jazz feel. This is the film version most people remember and it gave High Society an enduring reputation for witty social manners, romance and elegance.

High Society was adapted for stage and the version currently playing at the Barbican Theatre, with a book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Cole Porter, premiered on Broadway in 1998 – a full circle moment as Broadway is where The Philadelphia Story began. It starred Melissa Errico as Tracy and Anna Kendrick, aged 12 at the time, played Tracy’s sister Dinah. The Tony-nominated musical then crossed the pond and debuted at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2003.

L-R James Hume, Felicity Kendal and Naomi Pacquette star in High Society. Pamela Raith

Why High Society matters

A decade on from its last London revival at the Old Vic to critical acclaim, we are long overdue a High Society return, this time with fresh injection from director Rachel Kavanaugh (Shadowlands, Half a Sixpence, The Great British Bake Off Musical) and choreographer Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia!). It is a chance to revisit a much-loved story and the appeal of revivals comes from combining familiarity and freshness. In a world of uncertainty, when wars and political unrest dominate the news, an evening of escapist entertainment couldn’t be more welcome.

High Society brings one of the most elegant stories in popular culture to the stage and it is full of glamour, charm and sophistication. But it is more than just an entertaining musical about romantic confusion and the upper classes – its substance comes from timeless themes including identity, pride and balancing public expectations against personal happiness.

The score

The score is central to the identity of High Society, helping establish the musical’s tone as playful, romantic and elegant. The show is packed with Cole Porter’s hits, including “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, “Let’s Misbehave”, “I Love Paris”, “Just One of Those Things” and “Well Did You Evah!”.

In a four-star review in The Telegraph, critic Dominic Cavendish said that “the most stirring ballad is a late rendition of I’ve Got You Under My Skin”. This is sung by Mike Connor’s (Freddie Fox) lovelorn journalist companion Liz Imbrie, played by a “sensational” Carly Mercedes Dyer. Julian Ovenden also impresses vocally as Dexter Haven, the pining ex-husband of Tracy Lord, with his “beautiful tenor voice” (The Express) and “one of the best musical theatre voices on the planet” (WhatsOnStage).

High Society - London. Julian Ovenden & Helen George. Photo by Pamela Raith

Julian Ovenden & Helen George star in High Society. Photo: Pamela Raith

Is High Society worth seeing?

Yes, whether you know High Society from the iconic 1956 film or are discovering it for the first time, the story has broad and timeless appeal – combining glamour with very human romantic complications. The 28-strong cast is also packed with multi-generational star power – from Slow Horses’ Freddie Fox to The Good Life’s Felicity Kendal, both who have received rave reviews alongside leading lady Helen George (Call the Midwife) as socialite Tracy Lord.

The Times gave the show a glowing five-star review, calling it “the show of the summer”. The Daily Express also awarded High Society five stars, describing the revival as “a lovely slice of escapism“. It may not be an evocative or groundbreaking piece of theatre, but for a night of pure theatrical escapism, it ticks all the boxes.

Book tickets to High Society here