Cast Recording of The Witches Musical Arrives at Midnight, Bringing National Theatre Hit to Streaming Platforms

Fans of Roald Dahl and musical theatre have reason to stay up late tonight: the original cast album of The Witches, the National Theatre’s winter 2023 smash, will be released at midnight UK time on all major digital platforms.

From Stage to Speakers

Developed by the National Theatre in collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company, The Witches reimagines Dahl’s darkly comic 1983 novel as a high-energy stage spectacle. The adaptation pairs Olivier Award-winning playwright Lucy Kirkwood (Mosquitoes) with Tony-nominated composer Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812). Under Lyndsey Turner’s direction, the show earned ecstatic reviews for its “resolutely original and unashamedly fun” approach to a tale of child-hating sorceresses and one very determined boy-turned-mouse.

Who’s on the Album?

The recording features the full principal cast:

• Katherine Kingsley (Matilda) as the glittering yet terrifying Grand High Witch

• BAFTA winner Daniel Rigby (Accidental Death of an Anarchist) as fussy hotelier Mr Stringer

• West End stalwart Sally Ann Triplett (Oklahoma!) as Gran

• Irvine Iqbal (The Boy in the Dress) as Chef Chevalier/Dr Walberg

Young performers Bertie Caplan, Frankie Keita, Vishal Soni, Cian Eagle-Service, George Menezes Cutts and William Skinner share the roles of heroic Luke and hapless Bruno, supported by a 30-plus ensemble of adult and child actors.

Behind the Sound

The stage production’s creative firepower is preserved in the studio version. Nigel Lilley serves as music supervisor, with Cat Beveridge conducting a 16-piece orchestra that blends jazz-infused brass, eerie strings and Malloy’s signature folk-tinged harmonies. Numbers like “Hotel Magnificent,” “Formula 86” and the rousing finale “Mouse, Not Mouse” promise to translate the show’s kinetic choreography, crafted by Stephen Mear, into vivid audio storytelling.

A Miracle After the Blaze

The album’s arrival carries a note of serendipity: much of Sondheim’s personal archive (which shares the same NT storage facilities) narrowly survived a 1995 office fire, sparking renewed urgency to document major British musical theatre works. Producers say the quick turnaround from stage to recording ensures The Witches joins the canon before memory fades.

How to Listen

Beginning at 12:00 a.m. BST, the album will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and other streaming services, with CD and vinyl editions slated for late August. Digital liner notes include lyric sketches, costume designs by Lizzie Clachan, and behind-the-scenes photos of rehearsal-room sorcery.

What’s Next for The Witches?

With the cast album serving as an international calling card, industry insiders hint at a commercial West End transfer for late 2026, followed by a North American premiere. For now, listeners can conjure the magic at home, just mind the chocolate bars and keep an eye out for women wearing gloves.