Cast announced for new musical PINOCCHIO at Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe has announced the cast of new musical Pinocchio, which premieres in the Globe Theatre from 29 November 2025 - 4 January 2026.
Pinocchio is directed by Globe Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes, with a book and lyrics by Charlie Josephine, and music and lyrics by Jim Fortune.
The cast comprises Lee Braithwaite (The Other Place, National Theatre) as Pinocchio, Jennifer Caldwell (Lizzie the Musical, Hope Mill Theatre) as Ensemble/Swing, Michael Elcock (The Meaning of Zong, Bristol Old Vic) as Carpenter/Rabbit Prince Charming, Kerry Frampton (I Love You, But…, Camden Peoples Theatre/The Vaults Festival) as Fox, Jamal Franklin (Little Shop of Horrors, Sheffield Crucible) as Ensemble/Swing, Ed Gaughan (Brassic, Sky TV) as Stromboli, Nick Holder (London Road, National Theatre) as Geppetto, Lizzy Ives (Now That’s What I Call a Musical, UK tour) as Ensemble/Swing, Lucy McCormick (The Cat and the Canary, Chichester Festival Theatre) as Blue Fairy/Cat, Kody Mortimer (The Red Shoes, RSC) as Ensemble/Swing, and Steven Webb (Shucked, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Jiminy Cricket/Coachman. Stan Middleton, Aya Nakamura and Andrea Sadler join the company as Puppeteers.
Associate Artistic Director and Director of Pinocchio, Sean Holmes, said: “It’s a privilege to be part of the team bringing this magical new musical to the Globe this Christmas. Like the story itself we hope the production makes the impossible possible.”
Pinocchio is designed by Grace Smart, with puppetry direction and design by Peter O'Rourke, sound by Tony Gayle, orchestrations by Zac Gvi, choreography by Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu, musical direction by Benjamin Holder, and casting by Becky Paris.
Visitors to Shakespeare’s Globe can enjoy a new Pinocchio-themed afternoon tea at Swan at the Globe, running from 3 September until early 2026. The Swan’s menu includes a classic Pinocchio afternoon tea, a vegetarian afternoon tea, and a Geppetto savoury afternoon tea.
