Mary Poppins Returns to the Stage for 20th Anniversary UK and Ireland Tour
There’s something magical about seeing Mary Poppins glide onto the stage—and now, she’s sweeping across the UK and Ireland for a major 20th-anniversary tour. The tour couldn’t have begun in a more fitting place than the Bristol Hippodrome, which first hosted the world stage premiere two decades ago. The excitement isn’t just nostalgia; it’s electric, with first-look production photos showcasing the spectacle audiences can expect.
Fans of the beloved musical are especially in for a treat, with Stefanie Jones reprising the role of Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert, both reprising star turns from the lauded Australian run. On top of that, Michael D. Xavier takes up the stern, sometimes flustered, role of George Banks, while Lucie-Mae Sumner steps into the shoes of the ever-supportive Winifred Banks. Familiarity is a big part of this show’s draw—some faces returning, others new, all melding together to make this production soar.
The ensemble is brimming with talent: Rosemary Ashe brings wit to Mrs. Brill, Patti Boulaye enchants as the iconic Bird Woman, Wendy Ferguson lends gravitas to Miss Andrew, and Sharon Wattis juggles dual roles as Mrs. Corry and Miss Smythe. The hosts of young actors playing Jane and Michael Banks rotate, meaning every performance has its own special energy as the story unfolds from a child’s-eye view. Among the talented youngsters are Olivia Ainsworth, Olaya Martinez Cambon, Matilda O’Sullivan, Katie Ryden, Florence Amelia Swann, Charlie Donald, Jude Martin-Thomas, Oscar McCulloch, Joshua Miles, and William Stafford.
The Creative Brains Behind the Magic
Behind the curtain, some of the stage world’s top creative minds pull the strings. Richard Eyre returns as director, collaborating closely with Matthew Bourne, who’s well known for his game-changing choreography in the theatre world. Stephen Mear also makes his mark as co-choreographer, ensuring every dance step sparkles. Bob Crowley’s set and costume designs add those signature whimsical, yet utterly detailed, touches that fans have come to expect from Mary Poppins.
Sound and light haven’t been neglected, either. Paul Gatehouse and Hugh Vanstone have put their hands to the technical wizardry, making sure everything from a tap dance number to a magical umbrella flight feels as spectacular as ever.
The show keeps its Mary Poppins roots strong, delivering those earworm tunes from the Sherman Brothers (“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” will get stuck in your head again), while George Stiles and Anthony Drewe add some new numbers that fit right in. The score is playful, rich, and just familiar enough to hit that sweet spot—classic, but not stuck in the past.
This whirlwind tour isn’t skimping on its itinerary, either. After Bristol, the cast will bring the magic to Dublin on December 11, Edinburgh on January 22, and Plymouth by late February. The calendar then fills up: Manchester in April, Birmingham Hippodrome all the way into August 2025, then on to Southampton, Sunderland, and Milton Keynes, wrapping up in November next year. If you think you’ll miss your chance, think again—there’s plenty of time to catch this iconic production, though not all dates have their full casts locked in yet.
The buzz building around this production isn’t just about glittery costumes or toe-tapping tunes—it’s about celebrating a show that’s found a way to keep wowing families, year after year. And judging from the new photos, this 20th anniversary run is ready to deliver all that Mary Poppins magic, live and in-person.