There’s something you should know about Nanny McPhee… she’s heading to the West End!
More than 20 years after Emma Thompson first appeared on screen as the magical and rather unconventional nanny, Nanny McPhee is getting her very own stage musical, with the world premiere set to open in London in summer 2027.
And this isn’t simply a case of taking the familiar film and adding a few songs. Emma Thompson herself has written the book for Nanny McPhee The Musical and co-written the original lyrics with singer-songwriter Gary Clark, who is also composing the music. After writing the screenplays and bringing Nanny McPhee to life in two films, Thompson is now taking the character somewhere she has never been before – the stage.
Nanny McPhee The Musical arrives in London in 2027
Details are being kept tantalisingly scarce for the moment. We know Nanny McPhee The Musical will have its world premiere in London in summer 2027, but exactly where we’ll see that famous stick tapping the floor remains a mystery. The theatre, performance dates and perhaps most intriguingly the cast are still to be announced.
What we do know is that there’s a seriously impressive creative team assembling behind the show. And when you look at some of the productions between them, expectations for Nanny McPhee’s particular brand of theatrical magic are going to be rather high.
Emma Thompson brings Nanny McPhee back
It’s difficult to imagine Nanny McPhee without Emma Thompson. She wrote the screenplay for the original 2005 film and, of course, transformed herself into the mysterious nanny at its centre, returning for Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang in 2010. The films themselves were inspired by the Nurse Matilda stories created by author Christianna Brand and illustrator Edward Ardizzone.
For the musical, Thompson has written the book and is working with Gary Clark on the original songs. Clark’s previous musical-theatre work includes Sing Street, so we’re particularly interested to hear what the pair have created.
When you think about it, Nanny McPhee feels rather well suited to theatre. Magic, mischief, out-of-control children and a mysterious stick capable of making extraordinary things happen? There’s plenty for a creative team to get their teeth into. Some serious theatre talent is behind the magic
Katy Rudd will direct the new musical, and her previous work on productions including The Ocean at the End of the Lane and Ballet Shoes suggests she knows a thing or two about putting fantastical worlds on stage.
Then there’s Rob Howell, who will design the sets and costumes and whose credits include a small show you may have heard of called Matilda The Musical. Ellen Kane will provide the choreography following work on productions including Matilda and Paddington The Musical.
Perhaps the name that really made our ears prick up, though, is Chris Fisher, who will create the show’s illusions. His previous credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Back to the Future: The Musical and Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Suddenly, we’re very interested to see exactly what happens when Nanny McPhee taps that stick.
What will Nanny McPhee The Musical be about?
The musical takes us back to the chaotic Brown household, where the children have successfully driven away every nanny brave enough to attempt to look after them. Their father is increasingly desperate, there’s a donkey causing trouble and even the baby seems determined to contribute to the chaos.
Enter Nanny McPhee.
Armed with her knobbly stick, some decidedly unconventional methods and more than a little magic, she sets about restoring order. But anyone familiar with Nanny McPhee will know it’s never simply a case of naughty children learning to behave themselves, the adults usually have a lesson or two coming their way as well.
That mixture of comedy, heart, mischief and just a little darkness is part of what made the original film so memorable, and it could translate beautifully to the stage.
Who will play Nanny McPhee?
And here’s the question we’re already asking: who on earth do you cast as Nanny McPhee?
Emma Thompson returning to the role on stage would obviously cause something approaching theatrical pandemonium, but there is currently no suggestion that she will appear in the production. Casting remains firmly under wraps, and whoever eventually gets the stick will be taking on a character very closely associated with Thompson’s original performance.
It could be one of the most interesting casting announcements still to come. We also don’t yet know which London theatre will host the premiere, so there are plenty more Nanny McPhee announcements heading our way before summer 2027.
Could Nanny McPhee be the West End’s next big family musical?
It’s far too early to know. We haven’t heard the songs, seen the set or met the cast, and we don’t even know which theatre Nanny McPhee will be taking over yet. But on paper, there’s an awful lot to get excited about.
You’ve got a hugely recognisable British character, Emma Thompson writing the book and lyrics, an original score and a creative team with Matilda, Paddington, Harry Potter, Back to the Future and The Ocean at the End of the Lane between them. Most importantly, this isn’t simply another screen-to-stage musical with the original creator watching from the sidelines – Thompson is right at the heart of creating Nanny McPhee’s next chapter.
Nanny McPhee The Musical will have its world premiere in London in summer 2027, with the theatre, exact dates and casting still to be announced.
After all, when you need her but do not want her, she must stay. It seems London needs Nanny McPhee and she’s on her way!
For more information visit the show site here.
