8 actresses who could replace Denise Gough in the People, Places and Things UK tour

Good news and bad news theatre fans. Headlong's smash hit show People, Places and Things will hit the road in September on a UK tour beginning in Manchester. But without the show's Olivier Award-winning star, Denise Gough, who will instead take the show to New York's St Ann's Warehouse.

We take a look at eight actresses who could step into her (very big) shoes.

1. Tamara Lawrance

RADA graduate Lawrance turned heads with her performance in Unreachable at the Royal Court. Her previous theatre credits include King Charles III and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. She's also in our 10 theatre faces to look out for this year.

2. Phoebe Waller-Bridge

After its acclaimed original run and a subsequent TV adaptation, Waller-Bridge's Fleabag made a triumphant sold-out return to the Soho Theatre in December. We'd love to see her get her teeth into this play's protagonist.

3. Olivia Vinall

She's already a firm favourite at the National with credits at the venue including Young Chekhov, The Hard Problem, King Lear and Othello, Vinall can currently be seen in the new BBC drama Apple Tree Yard.

4. Zawe Ashton

Best known for her roles in Channel 4 comedies Fresh Meat and Not Safe for Work, Ashton's theatre credits include Gone Too Far! at the Royal Court, All The Little Things We Crushed at the Almeida, and Salome – also a Headlong production. She returned to the stage last year in Jamie Lloyd's The Maids.

5. Patsy Ferran

Soon to star in Speech and Debate at the Trafalgar Studios, Ferran's performances in The Angry Brigade (Bush), Treasure Island and As You Like It (National), showed off her versatility.

6. Amy Lennox

She's just finished playing alongside Michael C Hall in David Bowie's Lazarus, prior to which she impressed with her performance as off-the-wall Lauren in Kinky Boots. About time she tried out a play we think.

7. Jemima Rooper

Brilliant in last year's Hand to God, Rooper's other theatre credits include Breeders (St James), Blithe Spirit (Gielgud Theatre) and One Man, Two Guvnors (National Theatre).

8. Gugu Mbatha-Raw

You're more likely to see Mbatha-Raw on your screens than the stage now, she recently filmed the role of Plumette in the upcoming Disney film Beauty and the Beast, but her performance in Nell Gwynn at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2015 won plaudits from critics and the public alike.

Or, you know… Denise Gough

Gough's performance has been compared to some of the best stage performances of her generation. Why should the Americans get to take her away? Get your own actors America.

People, Places and Things tours to Manchester from 22 September, Oxford (11 to 14 October), Bath (17 to 21 October), Bristol (24 to 28 October), Exeter (31 October to 4 November), Southampton (7 to 11 November) and Liverpool (14 to 18 November).