Based on the best-selling novel by Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a new musical with songs by multi-platinum-selling artist ‘Passenger’ – now playing in London’s West End.

The Story

Retiree Harold Fry receives a letter from an old friend out of the blue. He hasn’t spoken to Queenie Hennessey for over twenty years and can’t think of the words to respond to the news that she is dying. Leaving his wife, Maureen, behind, he sets off to post his letter but can’t quite let it go.

Taking advice from the blue-haired girl in the Post Office, Harold seizes the moment and decides to walk to visit Queenie in person. The only problem is that he is in South Devon and she is at the other end of the country, Berwick upon Tweed. That’s over five hundred miles and he isn’t even wearing decent shoes.

As Harold continues on his pilgrimage, he is spurred on by news from the hospice that Queenie seems to be holding on, waiting for him to arrive.

News of his journey spreads and followers begin to join him, each seemingly with their own reasons to be there. But at the end of the day, this is Harold’s journey and he has his own demons he needs to deal with and come to terms with his past relationships.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a cute, heartwarming story about one man’s journey and the people he meets along the way. It’s very British – ‘The Girls’ meets ‘Billy Elliot’ and is musically beautiful.

The Cast

Noah Mullins as The Balladeer is the perfect choice to help guide Harold through his journey. The original run at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2025 starred Jack Wolfe in the role (currently starring on Broadway in Hadestown) and the two actors are eerily similar as performers with hauntingly beautiful voices.

Mark Addy does a great job as Harold Fry and Jenna Russell is perfect as wife, Maureen. It is always a joy to watch her on stage and she manages to bring warmth to every role she plays. This role is difficult because the audience needs to understand her feelings towards Harold’s journey and how she both understands and accepts it but also struggles to let him go. Jenna manages this with ease.

Jenna Boyd is wonderful as Sister Philomena, Nicole Nyarambi fun as the blue haired Garage Girl and Maggie Service is a lovely Queenie Hennessey.

I loved Timo Tatzber as the dog puppeteer but did find it a little odd when he then played Young Harold as well as we had seen so much of him already in the show.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is an interesting story. Not a true one but one which was written to deal with similar stories of illness and loss. It is heart-warming and brings a tear to the eye but it wasn’t quite as phenomenal as I was expecting, having heard such a buzz about it since its previous run.

If you go, you’ll love it. And you only have until 18 April 2026 so book your tickets now!

★★★★

Reviewed by West End Wilma

Find out more about the London production of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry