”The Secret Life of Bees” musical’s UK premiere – first look at rehearsals

The highly anticipated UK premiere of The Secret Life of Bees is set to run at the Almeida Theatre from 8 April to 27 May (with press night on 19 April), and rehearsal images for the production have been released.

The musical features a cast including Ava Brennan as June, Tarinn Callender as Neil, Eleanor Worthington-Cox as Lily, Madeline Charlemagne as Daughter of Mary/U/S August, Danielle Fiamanya as May, Rachel John as August, Shekinah McFarlane as Daughter of Mary/U/S June, Mark Meadows as T Ray, Richard James-Neale as Ensemble/U/S T Ray, Abiona Omonua as Rosaleen, Chrystine Symone as Daughter of Mary/U/S Rosaleen and May, Noah Thomas as Zachary, and Marcellus Whyte as U/S Neil and Zach.

The Secret Life of Bees is a new musical about a group of women who are ignited by rebellion and longing for acceptance. The story is set in 1964 South Carolina, where Rosaleen is fighting for her right to vote, and Lily is escaping her violent father.

It is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik, and Tony Award-nominated lyricist Susan Birkenhead. The musical is based on the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd and is directed by Whitney White.

The creative team includes choreographer Shelley Maxwell, set designer Soutra Gilmour, costume designer Qween Jean, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Simon Baker, music supervisor and musical director Nigel Lilley, casting director Charlotte Sutton, wigs, hair and make-up designer Cynthia De La Rosa, orchestrator John Clancy, and vocal arranger Jason Hart.

The production is presented in association with Sonia Friedman Productions, Lauren Shuler Donner, Marianne Mills, Bob Cohen, Hugo Six, and Atlantic Theater Company.