Photo credit: Richard Lakos
It has been announced that TO SIR, WITH LOVE – A New Musical will begin a curated tour at Leeds Grand Theatre on 15 April, with exclusive limited engagements at Hull’s New Theatre, Manchester Palace Theatre and London’s New Wimbledon Theatre.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the iconic 1967 cinematic masterpiece, the cast will be led by Olivier Award-winning actor Matt Henry MBE (The Devil Wears Prada; Kinky Boots, West End) as Mr. Braithwaite. Joining him is Olivier nominated actress Amy Di Bartolomeo (The Devil Wears Prada; SIX, West End) as Ms Blanchard, former EastEnders star Lucy Benjamin (Stepping Out, UK tour; Emma, Rose Theatre Kingston) as Ms Dale-Evans, TV & stage actor Ben Richards (The Bill, ITV; Moulin Rouge! The Musical, West End) as Mr. Florian, and actress and 2015 Strictly Come Dancing runner-up Georgia May Foote (The Rocky Horror Show, UK tour; Napoli, Brooklyn, Park Theatre/UK tour) as Pamela Dare.
Bursting with music, humour and heart, this uplifting new musical adaptation of E.R. Braithwaite’s powerful memoir features the legendary title song made famous by Lulu, written by Don Black and Mark London, alongside original music and lyrics by John Farrar and Kara DioGuardi, with a book by Kris Lythgoe, direction by two-time Tony award nominee, Broadway director Sheldon Epps, choreography by Kieran Donovan, orchestrations by Joseph Joubert, set and costume design by Andy Walmsley, video design by Aaron Rhyne, sound by Paul Smith, dramaturgy by Shereen Jasmin Phillips, and casting by Debbie O’Brien.
Following two sold-out concert performances at London's Gillian Lynne Theatre in November 2025, featuring Lulu and Wayne Brady, To Sir, With Love now returns to the UK stage in a fully staged production.
Director Sheldon Epps said: "This moving and wonderful story is personally meaningful to me for so many reasons. It is a joy and an honour to bring it to the stage, through the expressive power of musical theatre. Along with my wonderful collaborators we have found ways to let the story "Sing" in an organic way, heightening the emotion that has always been there. Rarely do we have the chance to bring to life a story so rooted in its time, yet still so vitally relevant today. I know audiences will celebrate our ‘Sir’ with every performance."
Further casting and creatives to be announced.
Immortalized by Sidney Poitier's captivating performance in the 1967 cinematic masterpiece, To Sir With Love is the coming-of-age story of young students on the brink of adulthood, and the teacher who refuses to let the world write them off. Rick Braithwaite, Cambridge-educated engineer and former RAF fighter pilot, meets prejudice at every turn, but he engages his students not as troublesome youths, rather as emerging adults who must soon stand or fall on their own merits. With grit and grace, he prepares them for more than just exams; he prepares them for life.
To book tickets for Manchester and London, please click here.