It’s been announced that David Thaxton is to join the West End cast of the Olivier Award-winning COME FROM AWAY, which continues its acclaimed run at the Phoenix Theatre.

The award-winning actor joins the cast from September 9th in the role of Kevin T / Garth. Thaxton recently completed a run as the titular character in the West End’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Thaxton’s other theatre credits include JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, LES MISÉRABLES at Queen’s Theatre, and PASSION at Donmar Warehouse, for which Thaxton won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Thaxton replaces David Shannon in the production, who leaves the production due to family commitments.

Thaxton joins the ensemble cast at the Phoenix Theatre which currently includes: Jenna Boyd, Nathanael Campbell, Clive Carter, Mary Doherty, Robert Hands, Helen Hobson, Jonathan Andrew Hume, Harry Morrison, Emma Salvo, Cat Simmons and Rachel Tucker.

COME FROM AWAY opened on Broadway in 2017 following tryouts in San Diego, Seattle, Washington and Toronto. The musical gathered massive acclaim when it opened in New York receiving seven Tony Award nominations including Best Musical, ultimately winning Best Direction of a Musical. The show received similar plaudits on its transfer to London in January 2019, garnering nine Olivier Award-nominations and winning four including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music.

COME FROM AWAY is set in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 New York terror attacks and tells the true story of when 38 planes became stranded in Newfoundland, Canada. It follows the community who take in the stranded passengers and offering hospitality. The characters are based on the real Newfoundland townsfolk and visitors they housed and fed. COME FROM AWAY celebrates the capacity for human kindness in the darkest of times.

COME FROM AWAY features book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The production is directed by Christopher Ashley with design by Beowulf Boritt, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Gareth Owen and costumes by Toni-Leslie James. Music supervision and arrangements are by Ian Eisendrath with musical staging by Kelly Devine, orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and casting by Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher.

COME FROM AWAY is booking at London’s Phoenix Theatre to 15th February 2020. Tickets are on sale now.