Shall we dance?

A Far-Eastern romance beckons between a hard-hearted king and a widowed English governess, in one of the Rodgers and Hammerstein's most beloved musicals.

Following its triumphant UK tour, Barlett Sher's multi-award-winning revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein celebrated classic returns to the West End in January 2024, with Helen George reprising the role of Anna Leonowens! 

What is it about?

Anna Leonowens is a widowed English teacher, who is charged with teaching the King of Siam's (now Thailand) hundred-strong royal offspring. Upon arrival in the country, Anna and her son Louis find the culture overwhelmingly different from their own, and the King himself to be a severe and strict employer. Though their relationship is initially marked by conflict and tension, eventually a bond begins to grow between the King and Anna that blossoms into a mutual respect and later attraction; however, can they both overcome their clash of cultures and propriety for the sake of love?

Getting to Know The King and I - A brief history

When The King and I originally opened in March 1951, Rodgers and Hammerstein both had serious doubts. Originally joking that audiences were only coming to see if it was better than their previous hit South Pacific, the immediate response allayed their fears. The King and I went on to become an overnight hit, and has played to audiences from Broadway to Bangkok, while its film adaptation, famous for Yul Brenner's commanding performance opposite Deborah Kerr in her voluminous ball-gowns, won five Academy Awards.