19 May 2026

Get ready for this year’s most glamorous party as High Society finally opens at London’s Barbican Centre tonight! Kicking off the summer season in elegant style and sophistication, the highly anticipated production has seen a hive of activity over the past week.

Last Friday, the cast made a special appearance on BBC1’s The One Show, and performed a sensational scene from the show, giving viewers an exclusive glimpse of what they can expect. You can watch the full interview and performance on BBC iPlayer here. Or watch the performance clip and our exclusive behind the scenes video here!

We also released two exclusive videos – A First Look Sneak Peak from the rehearsal room, and a High Society band performance at the legendary Abbey Road Studios! You can watch both clips below.

And theatre fans were given a guide to Who’s Who in High Society with the issuing of these character cards! Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I) leads the cast as the glamorous Tracy Lord, joined by stage and screen favourites Felicity Kendal (Rosemary and Thyme), Freddie Fox (Slow Horses), and Julian Ovenden (South Pacific). Nigel Lindsay (Kiss Me, Kate), Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anything Goes, A Chorus Line) return to the Barbican, joined by Malcolm Sinclair (Pie in the Sky).

Performed alongside a full-size orchestra, this lavish new production features a score overflowing with the best of Cole Porter’s songbook, including Just One of Those Things, Let’s Misbehave, I Love Paris, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Well, Did You Evah!, True Love, and many more.

Join the 28-strong cast as plans for the society wedding of the year descend into chaos, with old and new flames vying for attention as a sharp-eyed tabloid reporter hunts for scandal at a waterfront estate.

Brought to life by a multi award-winning creative team, including Rachel Kavanaugh and choreographer Anthony Van Laast, High Society declares the summer season officially open!