LIFT At Southwark Playhouse Announces Top Level Casting

The cast has been announced for LIFT at Southwark Playhouse, and boy is it good!

The company will be led by X Factor finalist Luke Friend (He/Him) in the role of Busker. He will be joined by Hiba Elchikhe (She/Her) who was recently seen in Everybody's Talking About Jamie in the role of Secretary.

They will be joined by the incredible Kayleigh McKnight (She/Her), who has just graduated from Westerburg High School in Heathers) in the role of the French teacher. Currently blowing away audiences in Anyone Can Whistle, Jordan Broatch (They/Them) will stay at Southwark Playhouse for a little longer, playing the role of Avatar, with Marco Titus (He/Him) in the role of BYT.

Produced by Gartland Productions who have a continued passion for supporting graduates, they have ensured three performances in the company of LIFT are making their professional debuts with the cast completed by Cameron Collins (He/Him) as Ballet Dancer, Tamara Morgan (She/Her) as Lap Dancer and Chrissie Bhima (She/Her) as Avatar.

Luke Friend said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of the wonderful cast of LIFT! This show is going to be so intimate and unique. Being a songwriter and Busker myself for many years, I feel as though I completely and utterly relate to my character’s story and the message he is trying to bring across. I can’t wait to give everything to this role and perform at Southwark playhouse for the first time. This is a real treat for me.”

Hiba Elchikhe said:

“I am really looking forward to being a part of LIFT the musical with this incredible group of people. I can’t wait for you all to see it.”

LIFT will be directed by Dean Johnson (He/Him) with Musical Direction and new arrangements by Sam Young (He/Him) and choreography by Annie Southall (She/Her). It features music and lyrics by Craig Adams and a book by Ian Watson. The creative team will include Andrew Exeter (He/Him) as production designer, Associate Designer by Natalia Alvarez (She/Her), Assistant Design by Xinyi Du (She/Her), Assistant Direction by Eden Howes (She/Her) and casting by Pearson Casting.

Dean Johnson said:

“Since we first began the journey of our revival of LIFT, we knew casting would be integral to how we could present the show as a snapshot of London in 2022. We had the most sensational audition process and the UK is certainly not short of incredible and diverse talent, and this allowed us to find an incredible group of people that can bring this story to life in a fresh way. I really believe our cast demonstrates how exciting the talent pool is in our industry with a mixture of established and incredible artists alongside fresh new faces. I really think they are going to blow the roof off Southwark Playhouse as a collective group of artists!”

LIFT is set in a London underground lift, in one man’s imagination, on its way to the surface during one minute. In the 54 seconds of the lift’s passage, we are taken on a much greater journey that reveals the people behind the masks they wear, the secrets they dare not speak, and the unrealised connections between them.

It plays at Southwark Playhouse from Friday 13th May until Saturday 18th June. Tickets from southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

This show already looked brilliant but with THAT cast, it's really moved on to the next level. Look out for my thoughts on the show when I review it next month.