Divina De Campo to join Ride the Cyclone musical

Exclusive: Divina De Campo will play The Amazing Karnak in the returning London production of Ride the Cyclone at Southwark Playhouse Elephant.

Written by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, the musical follows six teenagers caught in limbo after a roller-coaster accident, each given one final chance to argue for a return to life.

Produced by Kevin McCollum, Morris Berchard and Jack Maple, the musical returns following its five-star UK premiere run at the venue in 2025, which sold out and set a box office record at the theatre.

Producers have also announced that additional seats are now on sale for the new engagement, which runs from 19 June to 22 August 2026.

Divina De Campo joins the previously announced company, featuring Josh Butler as Noel, Grace Galloway as Jane Doe, Robyn Gilbertson as Constance, Bartek Kraszewski as Mischa, Jack Maverick as Ricky and Kayna Montecillo as Ocean. The cast is completed by swings Rebecca D’Lacey and Nathaniel Purnell, who will also serve as dance captain.

Speaking about joining the production, De Campo said: “I am so excited to be joining this amazing vibrant cast for what is a hilarious and tongue-in-cheek musical. The songs are catchy as they come and the story is both tragic and side-splitting, for the characters maybe literally!

“I am overjoyed to finally be on the Southwark Playhouse stage after seeing shows there and presenting more than a few awards to them, too, over the years!”

The production is directed and choreographed by Lizzi Gee, with musical direction and supervision by Ben McQuigg.

The full creative team also includes Ryan Dawson Laight (set and costume design), Tim Deiling (lighting design), Nina Dunn for PixelLux (video design), Tom Marshall (sound design), Richard Pinner (illusion design), Dominic Skinner (make-up design), Harry Blumenau (casting), Eva Sampson (associate director), Jasmin Colangelo (associate choreographer), Jennifer Deacon (associate musical director), Sharon Williams (costume supervisor), Props By Eve (props supervisor), Toby P Darvill for Production Solutions Group (production management), and Jack Maple Productions (general management).

The band comprises McQuigg (conductor and keys 1), Jennifer Deacon (keys 2), Daniel Kemshall (guitars), Hamish Barry (cello and bass), and Ollie Peszynski (drums and percussion).

The wider company includes James Hamilton (company stage manager), Vicky Zenetzi (deputy stage manager), Izzy Moore and Elion Budden (assistant stage managers), Ollie Reymes-Clermson (head of sound) and Luke Pisano-Webb (head of wardrobe).

Ride the Cyclone had its world premiere in British Columbia in 2008 before subsequent productions in Chicago, Off-Broadway, Seattle, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Sydney and Buenos Aires.

The musical’s associate producers are Sisco Entertainment and Coddiwomple Productions, and it is licensed by Concord Theatricals.

De Campo will not be performing on Saturday 4 July, Saturday 18 July, Friday 24 July, Saturday 25 July, Friday 31 July, Saturday 1 August or Sunday 2 August.