As Into the Woods prepares its highly anticipated move to the West End, cast members Simbi Akande, Gracie McGonigal and Keith Ramsay talk casting, Sondheim and why ‘happily ever after’ isn’t always what it seems.
Following a critically acclaimed, sell-out run at the Bridge Theatre, Into the Woods will arrive in the West End with some new faces. The full cast was announced today, and we caught up with some of them to talk all things Sondheim.
Simbi Akande (The Prince of Egypt, Hamilton) is all prepped and ready to step into the role of Cinderella, while Keith Ramsay (The Play That Goes Wrong, Shucked) will take on the role of Jack, stepping in for the previously announced Jo Foster, who is no longer able to appear.
Returning to the company as Little Red Riding Hood, the role she took on at The Bridge, is Gracie McGonigal (Bridgerton, The Crucible).
The beauty and nuance of Sondheim’s writing
Into the Woods is one of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved musicals, and for good reason. It’s a spin on fairy tales and being careful what you wish for, but one that includes a lot of emotional depth, and beautifully moving writing.
Gracie McGonigal cited a lyric from ‘No One is Alone’ as one of her favourites, in part because even though she’s done the show before, it’s a line that always moves her. She said it brings her to ‘tears every time. It’s just so sad and when you do a show a thousand times and it still makes you cry, it’s how you know it’s good writing.’
McGonigal also commented that in working on this production, she has a newfound appreciation of ‘Moments in the Woods,’ in large part because ‘the amount of self-discovery that happens within one two-minute number’ was incredible.
Keith Ramsay too referred to some of Sondheim’s lyrics as ‘life advice,’ because of their poignancy, and the simple way they make their point. As a lyricist, Sondheim is known for his complex writing, but the way his work allows for character development and specificity is part of what helps their impact land. Into the Woods is certainly a shining example of that.
Bringing a new energy to the production
The new production of Into the Woods arrives at the Noël Coward Theatre with some new and old faces. Several of the cast involved in the Bridge Theatre production return, but the full company boasts several new editions.
McGonigal, who is returning, was excited to feel the new energy, noting that ‘halfway through the Bridge production we had a mini cast change where we had some new faces in and that was so much fun.’ She went on to say that she’s excited to return to the role and get to know the new cast.
Simbi Akande, who joins the cast as Cinderella, was as excited about the Bridge Theatre’s production as most people were, commenting that she had been excited to see who would star, wondering ‘who’s playing this? Who’s playing that?’ Fast forward a year, and ‘now I get to be part of the production.’
Ramsay too was excited about joining the production, saying that there’s the ‘moment that you find out, and then there’s the sort of two days after when you’re like, oh I’m actually doing this.’ For Ramsay, who plays Jack, it won’t quite feel real until they get into the rehearsal room.
The truth about happy endings
One of the joys of Into the Woods is that it sees plenty of familiar characters come together, like Cinderella, Rapunzel and Jack. For her part, Akande is excited to take on the challenge of such a familiar character.
She felt that there were so many amazing versions of the character but ultimately, ‘she is so much more than obviously what we have in our heads, and I just can’t wait to explore all the nuances.’
The musical turns those familiar classic fairytales on their head by taking the happily ever afters we’re familiar with and looking beyond them. As Ramsay put it, this is a ‘fairy tale about fairy tales that looks at people and relationships and dismantles your idea of what the perfect happy ending might be.’
But, as McGonigal attests, it’s done in a ‘a deeply dark gory but also uplifting life affirming way.’
Watch the full interview now:
Plan your visit to Into the Woods
- Theatre: Noël Coward Theatre
- Booking dates: 22 September 2026 – 9 January 2027
- Performance schedule: Monday to Saturday evenings, Wednesday and Saturday matinees
- Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)
- Age range: 12+
Noël Coward Theatre, London
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