Helen George and Felicity Kendal are set to lead a glittering new production of Cole Porter’s classic musical High Society at London’s Barbican Center,in a casting move that brings together two of British television’s most recognisable stars. George, best known for her role in Call the Midwife, will share top billing with stage and screen veteran Kendal, beloved for The Good Life, as the production prepares to reimagine the high-society glamour and sharp wit of the 1956 film and 1998 stage adaptation. Their pairing signals a high-profile, star-driven revival that aims to blend nostalgic sparkle with contemporary theatrical flair in one of the capital’s most prominent venues.
Casting dynamics and character portrayals in the new High Society production at the Barbican
The Barbican revival brings together a cast whose onstage chemistry is as crucial as Cole Porter’s score.Helen George steps into the champagne-sparkling shoes of Tracy Lord with a performance calibrated between razor-sharp wit and bruised vulnerability, her recent television work lending a fresh, grounded naturalism to the character’s high-society poise. Opposite her, a mix of seasoned theater names and rising talents creates a shifting web of alliances and attractions, with the production leaning into the screwball rhythm of rapid-fire exchanges and subtle glances. The director’s choice to foreground emotional nuance over glossy caricature ensures that even the most privileged characters feel recognisably human, their privilege interrogated rather than merely displayed.
As Tracy’s formidable mother,Felicity Kendal operates as the production’s wry moral compass,her comic timing undercut by moments of quiet steel that reframe the family’s chaos as both absurd and painfully real. Around them, the ensemble trades on contrasting energies to keep the social stakes taut:
- Romantic suitors are played as ideological opposites, embodying old money, artistic rebellion and journalistic cynicism.
- Household staff are given sharper, more knowing character beats, subtly commenting on the excesses they witness.
- Supporting family members bring a screwball pace to the dialog, amplifying both farce and underlying tensions.
| Character | Portrayal Focus | Dynamic |
|---|---|---|
| Tracy Lord | Control vs. vulnerability | Drives romantic conflict |
| Mrs. Lord | Irony and restraint | Anchors family chaos |
| Suited fiancé | Security and status | Challenges Tracy’s ideals |
| Rebel lover | Freedom and risk | Tests social boundaries |
How Helen George and Felicity Kendal reshape audience expectations for this musical revival
Bringing together Helen George, best known for her emotionally precise work on Call the Midwife, and theatre icon Felicity Kendal instantly reframes how audiences approach this Cole Porter classic. Rather than expecting a glossy museum-piece musical, London theatregoers are primed for a character-led revival where wit and vulnerability sit side by side. George’s cool, contemporary edge and Kendal’s seasoned comic instinct suggest a production that leans into tension, irony and emotional subtext, as much as champagne sparkle. The casting hints at sharper tonal contrasts, promising to expose the cracks beneath the immaculate Newport façade.
For regular Barbican audiences and first-time visitors alike, the combination of these two performers signals that this revival will interrogate privilege, romance and female agency with a fresher lens.Viewers are likely to arrive expecting:
- Nuanced female perspectives that challenge the story’s old-money nostalgia.
- Dialogue-driven comedy rather than purely broad, physical gags.
- Understated, filmic acting styles within a large-scale musical frame.
- Layered generational dynamics between characters, not just glossy set-pieces.
| Performer | Known For | Audience Expectation Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Helen George | Television drama nuance | More psychological depth in Tracy |
| Felicity Kendal | Classic stage & TV comedy | Sharper timing and drier social satire |
Behind the scenes creative choices that define High Society for contemporary London theatre
In this Barbican revival, the production team leans into the tension between old-money glamour and present-day London realities, crafting a visual language that feels both archival and startlingly current. The world of the affluent Lord family is reframed through sleek, near-minimalist sets that suggest glass-fronted Thames-side apartments rather than creaking Newport mansions, with projections evoking tabloids, social media feeds, and rolling news tickers to remind audiences that scandal travels faster than champagne can be poured. Costume design favours a mix of timeless silhouettes and sharp modern tailoring, pairing satin gowns with clean, contemporary lines and playful nods to 1930s couture, so that Helen George’s Tracy navigates the stage like a fashion editorial shot in real time, while Felicity Kendal’s character anchors the opulence with pieces that hint at a lifetime of curated taste.
- Lighting draws on the glow of rooftop bars and gallery spaces, shifting from icy white to warm amber as relationships thaw.
- Choreography fuses vintage ballroom with the looseness of modern dance floors, mirroring characters who can’t quite keep step with their own traditions.
- Music direction favours a jazz-club intimacy, with onstage musicians occasionally visible like a house band in a Mayfair speakeasy.
- Sound design layers in the hum of London – distant traffic, helicopter buzz, the murmur of late-night parties – as a subtle urban undercurrent.
| Creative Element | London Twist |
|---|---|
| Set Design | Glass, steel and skyline vistas in place of country estates |
| Costumes | Old-Hollywood silhouettes cut from contemporary fabrics |
| Music | Cole Porter with subtle neo-swing and lounge inflections |
| Character Detail | Tabloid-ready family dynamics and paparazzi-flash moments |
Practical tips for securing tickets and planning your visit to the Barbican for High Society
With Helen George and Felicity Kendal headlining, demand is highly likely to be brisk, so it pays to be strategic.Aim to book as soon as the priority or public on-sale opens,and keep an eye on weekday matinees,which often have better availability than Friday and Saturday evenings. Signing up to the Barbican’s mailing list can alert you to presales and occasional promo codes, while checking back for returns in the week leading up to your preferred performance can turn up surprising last-minute seats. For those on a budget, look out for restricted-view options clearly marked on the seating plan – the sightlines might potentially be slightly compromised, but the savings can be significant.
Once your tickets are secured, build in extra time on the day to enjoy the Barbican’s sprawling complex. Arriving 45-60 minutes before curtain up gives you space to navigate the terraces, grab a drink, and locate your entrance without stress. Consider transport disruptions and the Centre’s late-night buzz when planning your return journey – the area is well served by multiple Tube lines, but services can be crowded after evening performances. To streamline your visit, keep these speedy planning notes in mind:
- Choose e-tickets to avoid box office queues and allow for quick entry.
- Check the Barbican website on the day for any performance or access updates.
- Book nearby dining in advance if you want a pre-theatre meal – restaurants fill up quickly on show nights.
- Use the cloakroom for larger bags or wet coats to keep aisles clear and your seat space agreeable.
| Aspect | Best Bet |
|---|---|
| Ticket value | Mid-price seats, weekday evenings |
| Quieter shows | Tuesday & Wednesday performances |
| Arrival time | 45-60 minutes before curtain |
| Transport | Barbican, Moorgate or St Paul’s stations |
Wrapping Up
As anticipation builds for this new staging of High Society, the Barbican’s latest casting coup underlines the enduring appeal of classic musical theatre in the West End landscape. With Helen George and Felicity Kendal at the helm, this production promises a blend of star power, nostalgic glamour and fresh interpretation that is likely to make it one of the season’s most talked-about tickets. London audiences now await to see how this celebrated duo will bring new life – and new laughs – to a much-loved Broadway classic.
