Term begins at hellish high school as Heathers returns to Oxford

Westerberg High School will open its doors in Oxford this autumn when the high-energy dark comedy Heathers the Musical hits the stage.

​Based on the 1989 cult film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers tells of the goings-on at a school where popularity is a matter of life and death. Veronica Sawyer is a ‘nobody’ dreaming of a better day – but when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel ‘Heathers’, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true.

That is, until J.D., a mysterious teen rebel, turns up and teaches her that "it might kill to be a nobody, but it’s murder being a somebody”.

Playing the role of Veronica Sawyer will be Gerardine Sacdalan. Gerardine wowed audiences as Juliet in the UK tour of & Juliet, with her performance earning a nomination for Best Professional Debut at last year’s WhatsOnStage Awards.

She joins Louis Hearsey, who will be playing Jason ‘J.D.’ Dean, Liberty Stottor – whose credits include Six the Musical – as the Heather Chandler, with Jessica Ibadin, making her professional debut, as Heather Duke and Lou Henry – whose credits also include Six the Musical – as Heather McNamara.

Also on the register are Veronica Carabai (Black Power Desk) as Ms. Fleming/ Veronica’s Mom, Sophie Manners (professional debut) as Martha Dunnstock, Markus Södergren (Here and Now – The Steps Musical) as Kurt Kelly, Beau Jackson (professional debut) as Ram Sweeney, John Gurdían (West End debut) as Ram's Dad/Big Bud Dean/Coach Ripper, Reuben Browne (School of Rock) as Kurt's Dad/Veronica's Dad/Principal Gowan, with Christian De-Gallerie (Midnight) as Preppy Stud/Officer, Ellouise Delooze (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical) as New Wave Party Girl, Caitlin Garcia (West End debut) as Drama Club Drama Queen, Alexander Howarth (West End debut) as Hipster Dork, Charlotte O’Rourke (Cruel Intentions The Musical) as Midwestern Surfer Punk, Thomas Oxley (Bonnie & Clyde) as Beleaguered Geek, Tola Sokoya (professional debut) as Young Republicanette and Carys Taylor (professional debut) as Stoner Chick.

Heathers first premiered in Los Angeles in 2013 to sold-out audiences before transferring to New York in 2014. The show was reimagined for its 2018 London debut, featuring new songs and updated script.

With three smash-hit West End runs and three record-breaking UK tours under its belt, Heathers has become a fan favourite, and won the 2019 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Musical. In a five-star review, the Sunday Express said: “Heathers is High School Musical’s darker, dirtier cousin.” The New York Times called it “an outrageous, irrepressible musical”.

Heathers the Musical is also making its way across Australia and New Zealand this year, with stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, Perth, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

The show is directed by acclaimed American screen and stage director Andy Fickman, with choreography by Gary Lloyd, design by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Dan Samson and musical supervision by Jeremy Wootton and Will Joy. It is produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd and Paul Taylor-Mills.

Heathers the Musical runs at the New Theatre from Tuesday November 24 to Saturday November 28. Visit atgtickets.com/Oxford to book.