Casting has been announced for the new UK production of Small Island.
Directed by Matthew Xia, Small Island premieres at Leeds Playhouse from 11 to 28 March, before playing Birmingham Rep on 1 to 18 April, and Nottingham Playhouse on 28 April to 16 May 2026.
Small Island is a powerful new adaptation by Helen Edmundson of Andrea Levy’s multi award-winning novel, and offers a fresh perspective on a world shaped by empire and entitlement, caught between belonging and unbelonging, disappointment and hope.
Produced in association with Actors Touring Company, the cast features Anna Crichlow (Ockham’s Razor) as Hortense; Rhys Stephenson (CBBC presenter and Strictly Come Dancing semi-finalist) as Michael; Mark Arends (Fatherland) as Bernard; Bronté Barbé (Newsies, Kathy in Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder) as Queenie; and Daniel Ward (Tambo & Bones) as Gilbert.
The show also stars Paul Hawkyard (The Railway Children) as Arthur; Rosemary Boyle (Dancing at Lughnasa) as Mrs Ryder; Marcia Mantack (Stepping Out) as Miss Jewel; Everal A Walsh (Animal Farm) as Kenneth/Mr Philip; Andre Squire (Greenland Migration) as Elwood; Mara Allen (King Lear) as Miss Ma/Celia; Zoe Lambert (The Railway Children) as Aunt Dorothy/Miss Todd; Toby Webster (The Score) as Kip/Young Man in Sweetshop; Phil Yarrow (Peter Pan Goes Wrong) as Mr Buxton/Captain Soames/Sgt Thwaites; and Jordan Laviniere (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Little Michael.
Joining director Matthew Xia in the creative team are Set & Costume Designer Simon Kenny; Lighting Designer Ciaràn Cunningham; Movement & Intimacy Director Asha Jennings-Grant; Voice & Dialect Coach Hazel Holder; Fight Director Kev McCurdy; WHAM Designer & Supervisor Dominique Hamilton; Casting Director Lucy Casson CDG; Composer Luke Bacchus; Music Mentor Ben Kwasi Burrell; and Video Designer Gino Green.
Director Matthew Xia said in a statement: “I can’t wait to get in the rehearsal room with this incredible group of artists to reimagine Small Island together. Working with such a talented, courageous and empathetic cast and creative team empowers us to delve deep – beyond nostalgia and heritage – to create a rich immersive world through which we can confront our shared history. I want audiences to feel the elemental force of this story: the power of a Caribbean hurricane set against the post-war austerity of a Britain clinging to empire. But I also want them to feel the hope that propels people across oceans in search of prosperity, opportunity and belonging.”
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