The acclaimed play Choir Boy is set to return to London with a new cast announced for its run at Stratford East from March to April 2026. The production continues to explore themes of identity and friendship in a boys’ prep school, following its praised 2023 Bristol Old Vic staging.

Choir Boy, a coming-of-age drama written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, will be staged at Stratford East from 26 March to 25 April 2026 as part of the theatre’s first season under artistic director Lisa Spirling. The play centres on a young Black queer man navigating faith, identity, and friendship, interwoven with gospel music.

Casting details have been announced, with Terique Jarrett reprising his role as Pharus, a performance that earned him the Black British Theatre Award for Best Male Lead Actor in a Play during the Bristol Old Vic run. Michael Ahomka-Lindsay also returns as David, alongside Daon Broni as Headmaster Marrow, Khalid Daley as JR, and Martin Turner as Mr Pendleton.

New additions to the cast include Rabi Kondé as Bobby and Freddie MacBruce as AJ. The production is presented by Stratford East, having originally been produced by Bristol Old Vic and directed by Nancy Medina, whose 2023 staging received critical acclaim for centring underrepresented stories.

The creative team for the London production comprises co-director Tatenda Shamiso, set and costume designer Max Johns, musical director and arranger Femi Temowo, and composer and sound designer Donato Wharton. Lighting design is by Nao Nagai, with movement direction and intimacy coordination by Ingrid MacKinnon.

Additional members of the creative and production team include Julia Horan as casting director, Aundrea Fudge as voice and dialect coach, Ewa Emini as associate movement director, Gemma Brooks as production manager, Vanessa Sutherland as company stage manager, Theodore Hung as deputy stage manager, and Emily Mei-Ling Pearce as assistant stage manager.

The return of Choir Boy to London underlines ongoing interest in McCraney’s exploration of Black queer narratives. The production’s focus on gospel music combined with personal storytelling continues to resonate within contemporary theatre.