Disney has announced initial casting for its major new production of Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London.
Hercules will be played by Luke Brady. Luke’s previous theatre credits include As You Like It for the RSC, SuperYou at the West End’s Lyric Theatre, Assassins at Chichester Festival Theatre, and The Prince of Egypt at the West End’s Dominion Theatre. Read more about Luke Brady.
Further casting is to be announced.
The show starts at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 6 June 2025, booking to 10 January 2026.
Video: Disney’s Hercules – Teaser trailer
Hercules has music by 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Tony Award winner David Zippel, and a brand-new book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie) and former artistic director of The Young Vic, Kwame Kwei-Armah.
The show is directed and choreographed by Tony-winner Casey Nicholaw (Mean Girls, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), and co-choreographed with Tanisha Scott.
The wider creative team includes set and additional video design from Dane Laffrey; costume design by Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser; lighting design by Jeff Croiter and sound design by Adam Fisher. The production team also includes video designer George Reeve, hair by Mia M. Neal, make-up by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche and special effects from Jeremy Chernick. The music team is headed by music supervisor and arranger Michael Kosarin, with orchestrations from Danny Troob and Joseph Joubert, and dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting.
Video: Disney’s Hercules – Interviews with the creators
Hercules is inspired by Disney’s 1997 smash-hit animated film directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid), and written by Clements, Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw and Irene Mecchi.
Director Casey Nicholaw’s current West End productions include Mean Girls at the Savoy Theatre, and The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
Disney’s other show currently playing in London is The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, which last month celebrated its 25th anniversary in the West End.
Tickets for Disney’s Hercules go on sale on 7 November 2025.
Hercules is playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 6 June 2025, booking to 10 January 2026.
More about tickets to Disney’s Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London
What They Said
Anne Quart, Executive Producer, Disney Theatrical Group said in a statement: “After a wide and exhaustive search, we are thrilled to announce Luke as Hercules. His remarkable depth as an actor delivers all the weight and power the character demands, but it’s his magnetism and presence that elevate this mythic character into a relatable young man, finding his way in the world and learning what it means to be human. The Hercules team has fallen in love with him and know that audiences will feel the same.”
Thomas Schumacher, Chief Creative Officer, Disney Theatrical Group added, “Hercules holds a treasured place among Disney Renaissance films. With its irresistible Alan Menken score, iconic characters, and the unforgettable Muses, fans’ affection for the film has only deepened since its release. Now, this production redefines Hercules for a whole new generation.”
Composer Alan Menken said: “Hercules was thrilling when I was first working on it in the mid-90s and has only grown more exciting and amazing with each passing adaptation. The new songs David Zippel and I have added for our upcoming production in London, have deepened the emotional impact and further developed the stylistic panache. The humor and overall message of the script by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah have brought our story to wonderful new heights and supercharged the underlying message of this story. And, when it comes to bringing all of this to life on stage, there’s no one even close to Casey Nicholaw in creating theatrical magic. I can’t wait for audiences to experience our new Hercules!!”
Lyricist David Zippel said: “It’s an absolute joy to revisit Hercules which was a glorious collaboration with Alan back in the late 90s. Adapting the film for the stage is the chance to build on the wit and action of the animation, then expand and deepen the characters via new songs, creating something new and exciting for the West End.”
Writer Robert Horn said: “What an honour it is to work with this amazing team on this new stage incarnation of the beloved and highly anticipated title Hercules. Kwame and I could not be more excited to bring our very different and unified styles of comedy and storytelling to this magical, mythical tale. And with this iconic score! We hope you’ll laugh and feel all the feels watching it as much as we did working together on it. We laughed so hard, we both got abs. We’re thrilled to present to you this gloriously heartwarming and hysterical story of heroism, community, cool togas and fabulous divas!”
Writer Kwame Kwei-Armah said: “Robert and I have had such a joyous time learning about each other and laughing together as we have shaped the story for the musical and that gets right into the DNA of what this show is: laughter, love and a quest for self-discovery that offers so much for audiences of all ages.”
Director Casey Nicholaw said: “In a search that took us across the globe, we have found our perfect hero in Luke, and I look forward to working with him over the coming months to develop the much-loved character of Hercules. We can’t wait for him to lift the roof at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.”
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