David Hunter will star alongside Lauren Ward and Hannah Corneau in Beautiful Little Fool, which is now in rehearsals ahead of its world premiere at the Southwark Playhouse Borough later this month.
Hunter will star as F Scott, with Ward as Scottie and Corneau as Zelda. Hunter replaces the previously announced Declan Bennett who, due to another professional commitment, has had to withdraw from Beautiful Little Fool.
The company also includes David Austin-Barnes as ensemble/cover F Scott, Amy Parker as ensemble/cover Scottie and Zelda, and Jasmine Hackett as swing.
With music and lyrics by Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, directed by Michael Greif, Beautiful Little Fool tells the story of Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald through the eyes of their daughter Scottie, as she rediscovers the lives and writings of her brilliant and tempestuous parents.
The London production of Beautiful Little Fool will have orchestrations by Adam Rothenberg, musical direction by Jerome van den Berghe, set design by Shankho Chaudhuri, costume design by Laura Hopkins, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Domnic Bilkey with Harry Blumenau on casting direction.
Beautiful Little Fool was originally commissioned by New Works Provincetown, and is produced by Mark Cortale, Jonathan Murray, Harvey Reese, and Willette & Manny Klausner.
The production runs at Southwark Playhouse Borough from Thursday, January 15 until Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Top image: Amy Parker, David Austin-Barnes. All images C Pamela Raith Photography (image supplied)