Cynthia Erivo’s stage history

For Cynthia Erivo, there really is no place like home.

And that home is fundamentally the stage, where she started her acting career, and where she seems to always find her way back to. Despite her overwhelming success acting in film, writing and presenting!

Before she became a household name worldwide for her portrayal of Elphaba in the blockbuster Wicked movies, Erivo played theatres across the UK, and even at one of the earlier WhatsOnStage Awards after falling in love with the art growing up in London and training at RADA.

We look back at her esteemed stage career.

Marine Parade at Brighton Festival (2010)

Her earliest professional production was a Fringe piece written by Simon Stephens and Mark Eitzel. Marine Parade is an ensemble piece set in a run-down seafront bed and breakfast where we get to know its proprietor and guests. There isn’t all that much information available online, but a review by Fringe Review commented: “The cast tackle the songs bravely and impressively, in particular Cynthia Erivo whose strong voice reverberates joyfully through the hall.” An impressive namecheck for that critic.

I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky at Theatre Royal Stratford East (2010)

That same year, Erivo appeared in a revival of John Adams’ piece of theatre set in the aftermath of an earthquake. Also in the cast were Natasha J Barnes, fresh from her stint in Spring Awakening, and Colin Ryan.

Madeleine in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (2011)

Erivo made her West End debut as Madeleine in Emma Rice’s adaptation of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The French romance played at the Gielgud Theatre for two months after tryouts in Leicester.

Deloris Van Cartier in the UK tour of Sister Act (2011)

Erivo was described as a “newcomer” when she was cast as the nun on the run in the fabulous (baby!) first UK touring production of Sister Act. The role was made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the film, as was another role of Erivos that we’ll come to discuss… She was joined by Tyrone Huntley (who she’d work with again in a holy Hollywood performance), as well as Denise Black, Joel Montague, and Dean-John Wilson.

Living Every Day at the Old Vic’s 24 Hour Musicals Gala (2012)

Each year, the Old Vic hosts a fundraising gala. It sees a host of well-known actors, playwrights, and directors join forces to create six plays that are written, rehearsed and performed within 24 hours. Alexander Bermange and Stephen Clark wrote the mini-musical, and Erivo featured opposite Tracie Bennett, Richard Fleeshman, Con O’Neil, and Luke Treadaway. It was introduced by Matt Lucas. Quite the line-up!

Appears in Lift (2013)

The fringe musical about a group of random strangers who come together in a lift, penned by Craig Adams and writer Ian Watson, was a firm off-West End favourite when it first ran in 2013, so much so that it got a revival just under a decade later! Erivo was hailed as a stand-out in the show, all just before she landed a role that would change her life…

Celie in The Color Purple at the Menier Chocolate Factory (2013)

In what would be a breakout role for Erivo, she starred as Celie in a London production of The Color Purple, which happened to be the show’s European premiere. John Doyle directed the stage adaptation of Alice Walker’s bestselling African-American classic, which follows a southern girl’s self-realisation.

I Can’t Sing! at The London Palladium (2014)

If you know, you know: There was once an X Factor-style musical comedy written by Harry Hill and Steve Brown. Bombastically, it went straight into The London Palladium and was plagued by issues in the run-up to opening, which ultimately all led to its premature closing. Still, our WhatsOnStage reviewer enjoyed it! Likely down to the fantastic cast. Nigel Harman played Simon Cowell, and Erivo played contestant Chenice, alongside Simon Lipkin, Alex Young, and Katy Secombe.

Dessa Rose at Trafalgar Studios (2014)

Later that summer, Erivo took part in the European premiere of Dessa Rose in London. Based on Sherley Anne Williams’ novel, the musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty also starred Cassidy Janson. Our reviewer commented: “Erivo is a life force whenever she sings.”

Henry IV at Donmar Warehouse (2014)

Returning to her roots of traditional theatre, Erivo joined Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female revival of Henry IV in London. The production starred Harriet Walter as King Henry and was set in a prison.

My Lifelong Love (2014)

Georgia Stitt made her West End debut with her equally as impressive friends, including Erivo, Eva Noblezada, Norman Bowman, Jamie Muscato, and Caroline Sheen, presenting numbers from multiple of Stitt’s musicals. What a night that must have been!

Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2015)

In Nick Bagnall’s unusually dark production at Liverpool Everyman, Erivo made her entrance on a trapeze, and our reviewer compared her to a master of ceremonies!

Rosemary Pilkington in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2015)

How we wish this weren’t just a one-off performance! Jonathan Groff, Hannah Waddingham, Clive Rowe and Anna Jane Casey featured alongside Erivo with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall.

Other concert performances she has been involved in include West End Recast and Night of Electric Voices.

Appeared in Songs for a New World (2015)

Celebrating 20 years of the premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s much-loved song cycle, Erivo appeared in a production with Jenna Russell, Damian Humbley and Dean-John Wilson, alongside a five-piece band. One of her numbers was “I’m Not Afraid of Anything”. She has also performed with Brown, joining him at his 2015 London concert for a rendition of “I Can Do Better Than That” from The Last Five Years. Other guests included Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Matt Henry, Oliver Tompsett, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Bertie Carvel.

Celie in The Color Purple on Broadway (2015)

The musical, which will now be forever associated with Erivo, actually premiered on Broadway in 2005. When the Menier’s production hopped over the pond, an all-star cast was assembled, including Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks, with Erivo reprising her defining role as Celie. She picked up the Tony Award, a Grammy, and an Emmy with the show. Check out our review round-up!

Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl (2025)

Nobody could have predicted that Erivo would play the titular character in a huge concert production at the Hollywood Bowl, mid-Wicked hype, but it was quite the triumph! Our critic called it “a divine night in Hollywood,” saying that both Erivo, and Adam Lambert as Judas were “extraordinary”. We hope that somewhere, there’s a taped recording just waiting to be released.

All the roles in Dracula (2026)