Follies revival confirms full cast for autumn run

Casting is complete for Follies at the Grand Opera House in Belfast.

The venerated musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman, features numbers such as “Broadway Baby,” “I’m Still Here,” “Could I Leave You,” and “Losing My Mind.”

Cameron Menzies, the artistic director of Northern Ireland Opera, will direct the production. Menzies’ previous revival of Into The Woods at the Lyric Theatre won Best Production at the Irish Theatre Awards in 2022 and was later remounted at West Australian Opera in Perth to critical acclaim.

Follies was originally produced on Broadway by Harold Prince, with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. This production is presented by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International.

As already confirmed, starring as Sally Plummer and Phyllis Stone are Anna-Jane Casey – who recently appeared in another much-loved Sondheim title – and Annette McLaughlin. They’re joined by Mark Dugdale as Buddy Plummer, Alasdair Harvey as Benjamin Stone, Jacqueline Dankworth as Carlotta Campion, and Allison Harding as Hattie Walker. Lesley Garrett will also play Heidi Schiller.

They’ll be joined by Brigid Shine, Anna Violet, Reece McGowan, Chris Kane and Petra Wells, playing the 1941 versions of Sally, Phyllis, Buddy, Benjamin and Heidi.

Meanwhile, Rachel Stanley will play Solange Le Fitte, Pippa Winslow will play Stella Deems, Northern Irish singer Darren Franklin will play Roscoe, while Christina Nelson and Richard Croxford will play Emily and Theodore Whitman.

Marty Maguire is cast as Dimitri Weismann, Colette Lennon Dougal as Dee Dee West and Orla Mullan as Sandra Crane.

A further 12 singers, all based in Northern Ireland, make up the ensemble. They are: Becky Anderson, Maeve Byrne, Sophie Fleet, Chloe Hopcroft, Johanna Johnston, Anna Tennyson, Mark D’Arcy, Nic Cain, Ciarán McCormack, Fionan O’Carroll, Sean O’Neill, and Jed Hoyle.

On the creative team, Greg Arrowsmith will serve as music director, leading the orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera. Jennifer Rooney is the choreographer, Niall McKeever will design the set, Gillian Lennox is the costume design associate, Jake Wiltshire is the lighting designer, Andy Graham is the sound designer, Nuala Campbell is the hair and make-up designer, Margaret Barry is the orchestra manager, and Fraser Hickland is the repetiteur.

The show runs from 13 to 20 September 2025.