Full casting has been announced for the first-ever stage adaptation of Victoria Wood’s iconic sitcom dinnerladies, coming to major UK theatres from January 2027, with TV favourites Sue Cleaver and Karen Henthorn starring alongside Les Dennis.
Commissioned by the Victoria Wood Estate, dinnerladies is the first piece of Wood’s work the estate has commissioned since her death in 2016. The production will star Sue Cleaver (Coronation Street) and Karen Henthorn (Eastenders), alongside Les Dennis (Only Fools and Horses The Musical).
The show premieres at Manchester Opera House in January 2027 and will tour nationwide until August 2027.
The original sitcom aired on BBC One between 1998 and 2000, drawing more than 15 million viewers at its peak and winning the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy in 2000. The story takes place in the canteen of fictional factory HWD Components, and the show is adapted by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne and directed by double Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley.
Book tickets to the dinnerladies UK tour here
Cast for dinnerladies revealed
- Les Dennis as maintenance man Stan
- Sue Cleaver as Jean
- Karen Henthorn as Dolly
- Amy Drake (Brassic) as Deputy Canteen Manager Bren – the role originated by Victoria Wood
- Gemma Dobson (A Taste of Honey) as cynical young Twinkle
- Faye Weerasinghe (Spitting Image The Musical) as naïve co-worker Anita
- Jimmy Fairhurst (Doctors, Emmerdale) as mild-mannered Canteen Manager Tony
- Josie Brightwell (Fawlty Towers – The Play) as Bren’s chaotic mother Petula
- Rachel Marwood (Waterloo Road) as loveable canteen regular Jane
- Rachel Pickup (The Gilded Age) as scatty HR manager Philippa
Cleaver has a personal connection to the role, having worked alongside Wood on the original show. She said: “I was honoured to have a regular role on the show itself and to work alongside the legendary Victoria Wood many moons ago so it’s an absolute joy to be returning to play such a fantastic character as feisty Jean!”
Dennis knew Wood personally too, having been a fellow finalist with her on New Faces in the 1970s.. He added: “Being part of this tour and seeing these beloved northern working-class characters brought to the stage is a perfect way to keep her legacy alive.”
The creative team
Directed by Sean Foley, the production is adapted by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne, drawing its storyline directly from the original BBC sitcom and preserving Wood’s inimitable dialogue. It is also being produced by the Victoria Wood Estate in association with Phil McIntyre Live and Sustainable Entertainment.
Book tickets to the dinnerladies UK tour here
Cast & creative highlights
What distinguishes this adaptation is its cast’s genuine links to the source material: both Cleaver and Dennis knew Wood personally, giving the production an authenticity beyond simple nostalgia casting.
The Victoria Wood Estate said it was “delighted to be bringing the joy of Victoria Wood’s much-loved classic dinnerladies back to the nation” and hopes the show takes audiences “straight back to the delights of the canteen and characters they grew to love.”
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