Starter for Ten (musical)

Starter for Ten
Production logo
Music	Hatty Carman Tom Rasmussen
Lyrics	Hatty Carman Tom Rasmussen Emma Hall Charlie Parham
Book	Emma Hall Charlie Parham
Basis	Starter For Ten (novel) by David Nicholls Starter for 10 (film)
Premiere	29 February 2024 (2024-02-29): Bristol Old Vic
Productions	2024 Bristol 2025 Bristol and Birmingham

Starter for Ten is a British stage musical based on the 2003 novel of the same name by David Nicholls, and its 2006 film adaptation. It has music and lyrics by Hatty Carman and Tom Rasmussen, and book and lyrics by Emma Hall and Charlie Parham.

Production history

World premiere: Bristol (2024)

The musical had its world premiere at the Bristol Old Vic beginning previews on 29 February 2024 (with a press night on 7 March) for a limited run until 30 March. The production is directed by Charlie Parham, choreographed by Shelley Maxwell, designed by Frankie Bradshaw, sound design by Gregory Clarke with Will Burton as casting director and Nick Barstow as music supervisor. ^{[1] [2]}

Bristol return and Birmingham (2025)

The musical will return to the Bristol Old Vic from 10 September to 11 October before transferring to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 22 October to 1 November 2025. Mel Giedroyc will reprise her role as Irene / Julia Bland. ^[3] Full casting was announced on 3 June 2025. ^[4]

Cast and characters

Character	Bristol [5]	Bristol / Birmingham
	2024	2025
Rebecca	Eubha Akilade	Asha Parker Wallace
Spencer	Stephenson Ardern-Sodje	Christian Maynard
Brian Jackson	Adam Bregman
Lucy	Miracle Chance
Irene / Julia Bland	Mel Giedroyc
Patrick	Will Jennings
Des	Luke Johnson
Professor Bowman	Gemma Knight-Jones	Rachel John
Alice	Emily Lane	Imogen Craig
Mrs Harbinson	Natasha O’Brien	Michelle Bishop
Bamber Gascoigne	Robert Portal	Stephen Ashfield
Young Brian	Finlay Blackman William Hall Rockingham Ooi-Griffiths	tbc

References

1. Iorizzo, Ellie (19 April 2023). "Musical based on David Nicholls book Starter For Ten to premiere next spring". Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
2. Staff Writer (4 October 2023). "Starter for Ten Cast Announced for Bristol Old Vic Run". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
3. "Starter for Ten musical to return with Mel Giedroyc". 11 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
4. "Full casting revealed for STARTER FOR TEN musical in Bristol and Birmingham". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
5. "Starter for Ten musical announces full cast, including Mel Giedroyc". 23 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.