Katie Brayben cast as Carole King in Beautiful

Katie Brayben, currently starring as Princess Diana in King Charles III at Wyndham's Theatre and previously seen in the Almeida's American Psycho, has been cast in the role of Carole King in new musical Beautiful.

The musical, which opens at the Aldwych Theatre in February 2015, tells the story of Carole King's journey from school girl to superstar featuring classics including "Take Good Care of my Baby", "Up on the Roof" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman".

Brayben trained at Rose Bruford College and her previous acting credits include Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! both in the West End and on tour as well as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Ragtime at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, and she is also a singer-songwriter.

Further casting includes Alan Morrissey, recently seen in I Can't Sing!, as King's first husband Gerry Goffin, Glynis Barber as King’s mother, Lorna Want (Parade – Donmar Warehouse, Dreamboats and Petticoats – West End) and Gary Trainor (I Can't Sing!).

Beautiful opens on 10 February 2015, with full casting to be announced.

Check out the trailer for the show, featuring footage from the Broadway production of Beautiful: