Once on This Island will return to London for a special concert staging at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Tony Award winner Alex Newell is set to reprise their celebrated role as Asaka for the London stage.
Alex, who earned the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Shucked, is also well-known for playing Unique Adams on Glee and Mo on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.
Alex shared: “Playing Asaka is like stepping into pure sunlight—she lives in my bones, loud and loving, wise and wild, and absolutely unafraid… Coming back to this city feels like being welcomed by an old friend who never forgot you. I can’t wait to shake the stage again, to fill it with laughter and power and color, and to pour every ounce of myself into a character who has given me so much.”
Alex is joined by an impressive cast of West End talent, including Dujonna Gift as Ti Moune, Melanie La Barrie as Papa Ge, and Cedric Neal as Agwe. Other notable cast members include Jamael Westman as Daniel, Casey Al-Shaqsy as Andrea, and Wendy Mae Brown as Mama Euralie.
The ensemble features Elliot Broadfoot, Jerome Lincoln, Lindo Shinda, and Tamara Tare, with more names to be announced.
Once on This Island, written by the award-winning duo Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, is celebrated for its vibrant Caribbean-inspired music and storytelling.
The show centers on Ti Moune, a fearless young woman who saves – and falls for – Daniel, a boy from another world. Her journey is one of hope, sacrifice, and the power of community.
The concert is directed by Annabel Mutale-Reed, with Jordan Li-Smith as Musical Director, and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra providing live accompaniment.
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