Nanny McPhee musical to have world premiere in London

A new stage musical adaptation of Nanny McPhee, with a book by Emma Thompson, will receive its world premiere in London in summer 2027.

Based on the Nanny McPhee films and the Nurse Matilda character created by Christianna Brand and Edward Ardizzone, the musical will bring the story to the stage for the first time. Further details, including the theatre, performance dates and casting, will be announced in due course.

The story follows the mysterious Nanny McPhee as she arrives at the home of the Brown family, where she encounters a group of unruly children who have driven away every previous nanny. Alongside a desperate father, an out-of-control donkey and a baby, Nanny McPhee uses her unconventional methods and magic to restore order to the household.

Thompson wrote and starred in the original 2005 Nanny McPhee film, which also featured Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Kelly Macdonald, Imelda Staunton and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. She returned to write and star in the 2010 sequel, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang.

Thompson has written the book for the new musical and will also provide original lyrics alongside Gary Clark. Clark, the frontman of Danny Wilson, has written the music for the stage and film adaptations of Sing Street.

The production will be directed by Katy Rudd, whose recent credits include Ballet Shoes and The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Set and costume design will come from Tony and Olivier Award-winning designer Rob Howell, known for Matilda the Musical, while choreography is by Ellen Kane, who won a 2023 World Choreography Award for her work on the film adaptation of Matilda the Musical.

The creative team also includes orchestrations and arrangements by Simon Hale, with music supervision and additional arrangements by Nigel Lilley. Lighting design is by Howard Hudson, sound design is by Ian Dickinson for Autograph, illusions are by Chris Fisher, puppetry is by Samuel Wyer and projections are by Andrzej Goulding. Casting is by the WhatsOnStage Award-winning Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Aillon and Natalie Gallacher Casting, with general management by Playful Productions.

Thompson said: “I’ve lived with Nanny McPhee for so long that to see her finally tread the boards is supremely exciting. Theatre feels like her natural home – magic, music, mischief and a good dollop of danger can all happen right in front of you.”

She added that working with Clark on the musical had been “an unforgettable journey of a lifetime” and said she was “thrilled and so proud” that Rudd would be directing the production. Auditions are expected to kick off later this year.

Nanny McPhee is being presented by Working Title Films and Universal Theatrical Group. Producers are Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lindsay Doran, Emma Thompson, Paul Warwick Griffin, Gareth Hewitt Williams and Rebecca Quigley for Working Title Films.