Producers Naoya Kinoshita, Kumiko Yoshii, John Gore, Kenny Wax, Michael Wolk, Jack Lane and Leo Stages today announce the full casting for the UK premiere production of THE KARATE KID – THE MUSICAL. Based on the smash hit Columbia Pictures motion picture, this new stage adaptation features a book by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 film that launched a 40-year global franchise, and music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. The production will embark on a UK tour beginning in April 2026, before heading to Toronto from September, where it will make its Canadian premiere.
Adrian Pang will lead the company as Mr. Miyagi, with Gino Ochello as Daniel LaRusso, Abigail Amin as Ali Mills, Joe Simmons as Johnny Lawrence, Matt Mills as John Kreese, Sharon Sexton as Lucille LaRusso, and Finley Oliver as Freddie Fernandez.
The ensemble includes Ambra Caserotti, Johndeep More, Ria Tanaka, Elena Breschi, Aden Dzuda, Elliott Evans, El Haq Latief, Isaac J Lewis, Emily Rose-Davis, Aaron Archer, Dylan Blake-Colbet, Serenar Douch, Esme Rothero and Sok-Ho Trinh.
Adrian Pang is an acclaimed Singaporean performer whose extensive stage career spans the UK and Asia. Credits include the title roles in Hamlet and Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, The Grand Babylon Hotel, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple and The God of Carnage. In 2024 he portrayed Ying Ruocheng in the world premiere of Salesman in China at the Stratford Festival in Ontario, later reprising the role at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Gino Ochello, a Gibraltar-born performer and singer makes his professional stage debut as Daniel LaRusso. Abigail Amin a recent Arts Ed graduate, recently completed filming James Graham’s feature film Ink directed by Danny Boyle. Joe Simmons also recently graduated from ArtsEd, with credits including Cruel Intentions (UK Tour) and Pippin (West End).
Matt Mills’ theatre credits include MJ the Musical (West End), Dreamgirls (UK Tour), Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (West End), Motown the Musical (UK Tour) and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (UK Tour).
Sharon Sexton is an award-winning Irish West End performer, best known for originating the role of Sloane in Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell: The Musical in the West End and internationally. Her extensive UK theatre credits include Donna in Mamma Mia! (international tour), A Night with Janis Joplin (Peacock Theatre), The Liza Minnelli Story (Edinburgh Fringe/UK Tour) and the original cast of The Commitments (West End). She has performed widely in concert, including performances at the Royal Albert Hall and with the RTÉ National Concert Orchestra.
The UK tour opens at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 28 April before visiting Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sheffield, Sunderland, Birmingham and Cardiff until 1 August. The Toronto season opens in September. Tickets are on sale at all venues.
The original 1984 film, The Karate Kid, starring Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita as Mr Miyagi was a global box office success and critical triumph, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The story fast became a cultural phenomenon, launching a major global franchise that has included three movie sequels, a 2010 remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan and the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai (2018 – 2025). Most recently, Karate Kid: Legends starring Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio was released in cinemas in 2025.
THE KARATE KID – THE MUSICAL received its world premiere at STAGES St. Louis, USA in 2022, playing to sold-out houses and critical acclaim.
Honouring the roots of the timeless story, this new musical celebrates resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations.
Daniel is the new kid in town trying to fit in until he becomes the target of Cobra Kai’s relentless star student, Johnny. Underestimated and outmatched, Daniel struggles to find his footing, until Ali, Johnny’s ex, sees something in Daniel that no one else does. As Johnny refuses to step aside, teenage rivalry turns into something more sinister. Daniel discovers guidance from Mr. Miyagi who teaches him that karate isn’t about fighting, it’s about balance, respect and that the greatest victories are won from within.
Featuring a Tony Award®-winning design team and an electrifying new score, this coming-of-age masterpiece is reimagined for the stage with stunning artistry and ground-breaking choreography.
Written by Robert Mark Kamen with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini, THE KARATE KID – THE MUSICAL is directed by Amon Miyamoto, with choreography by Keone and Mari Madrid, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Ayako Maeda, lighting design by Bradley King, sound design by Kai Harada, projection design by Peter Nigrini, wigs and hair design by Tommy Kurzman, orchestrations by John Clancy, music supervisor and arrangements by Andrew Resnick. Produced by Naoya Kinoshita, Kumiko Yoshii, John Gore, Kenny Wax, Michael Wolk, Jack Lane, and Leo Stages.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
THE KARATE KID – THE MUSICAL
UK TOUR 2026
Tue 28 April – Sat 9 May
WIMBLEDON New Wimbledon Theatre
93 The Broadway, London SW19 1QG
Tue 12 – Sat 23 May
MANCHESTER Palace Theatre
97 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6FT
Tue 26 – Sat 30 May
LEEDS Grand Theatre
46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
leedsheritagetheatres.com | 0113 243 0808
Tue 2 – Sat 6 June
LIVERPOOL Empire Theatre
Lime St, Liverpool L1 1JE
Tue 9 – Sat 13 June
OXFORD New Theatre
24-26 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AG
Tue 16 – Sat 20 June
MILTON KEYNES Milton Keynes Theatre
500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ
Tue 23 – Sat 27 June
EDINBURGH Festival Theatre
13-29 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9FT
capitaltheatres.com | 0131 529 6000
Tue 30 June – Sat 4 July
GLASGOW Theatre Royal
297 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JN
Tue 7 – Sat 11 July
SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre
55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk | 0114 249 6000
Tue 14 – Sat 18 July
SUNDERLAND Empire
4-5 High St, West Sunderland SR1 3EX
Tue 21 – Sat 25 July
BIRMINGHAM The Alexandra
Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS
Tue 28 July – Sat 1 August
CARDIFF Wales Millennium Centre
Bute Place, Cardiff CF10 5AL
wmc.org.uk | 029 2063 6464
CANADA PREMIERE 2026
September – November
TORONTO The Princess of Wales Theatre
300 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1J2, Canada
mirvish.com
