Booking to 27 May 2023
★★★★ “Astonishingly powerful music” – The Guardian
Arriving in London in 2023, don’t miss this powerful, poignant and funny coming-of age story, based on the best selling novel The Secret Life Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
The Secret Life of Bees is brought to life on stage in a new musical adaptation from a multi-award winning creative team helmed by Tony Award winning Director Sam Gold (Fun Home).
Adapted for the stage by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Sweat, Ruined), with music by Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) and lyrics by two-time Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner Susan Birkenhead (Jelly’s Last Jam), this highly anticipated new musical will receive its West End premiere in 2023.
Directed by Whitney White, The Secret Life of Bees is playing at the Almeida Theatre from 4 April to 27 May 2023.
What's the story of The Secret Life of Bees?
Set in South Carolina in 1964, this coming-of age story follows Lily, a lonely white teenager, struggling with her distant father and the haunting memory of her mother’s death.
When Rosaleen, her black caregiver and only friend, is beaten and jailed for asserting her right to vote, Lily’s rebellious spirit is ignited. She and Rosaleen escape on an adventure where they are taken in by a trio of black beekeeping sisters. While Lily tries to unlock the secrets of her past, she and Rosaleen find solace in the mesmerising world of bees and spirituality in this extraordinary tale of awakening, fellowship and healing.
Who is in the cast of The Secret Life of Bees?
The cast features Ava Brennan (Les Misérables; Hamilton; Tina – The Tina Turner Musical; The Lion King), Tarinn Callender (Hamilton; Come From Away), Danielle Fiamanya (Frozen, & Juliet, The Colour Purple), Rachel John (Hamilton, The Bodyguard), Mark Meadows (Quiz, Flowers for Mrs Harris) and Abiona Omonua (Caroline, or Change), Eleanor House (Tempest), Richard James-Neale (The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage), Daniel Krikler (The Book Thief), Shekinah McFarlane (Six), Chrystine Symone (Anyone Can Whistle), Noah Thomas (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Marcellus Whyte (Motown) and Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Matilda).
Who are the creative team of The Secret Life of Bees?
The Secret Life of Bees is a musical written by Lynn Nottage (Sweat, Ruined), with music by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), lyrics by Susan Birkenhead (Jelly’s Last Jam), and directed by Sam Gold (Fun Home); based on the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd.
The musical is directed by Whitney White.
Reviews of The Secret Life of Bees
★★★★ "Astonishingly powerful music" - The Guardian★★★★ "A joyful, inclusive crowd-pleaser" - The Independent
★★★★ "Deserves to generate a real buzz" - The Telegraph
★★★★ "Buzzing with delights" - The Times
★★★★ "A vibrant new musical" - i News
Show Information
Show Photos
Venue Information
Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TANearest Tube or Train: Highbury & Islington (Victoria / Overground), Angel (Northern)
Nearest Buses: 4, 19, 30 or 43, 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476
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