The multi-award-winning hit musical Avenue Q marks a historic milestone this Sunday, June 28, 2026, celebrating exactly twenty years since the laugh-out-loud production first opened in London's West End at the Noël Coward Theatre back in 2006. To commemorate the two-decade legacy, a critically acclaimed anniversary production has officially returned to the capital, setting up camp at the Shaftesbury Theatre for a strictly limited season running until Sunday, January 3, 2027.
The celebratory staging brings the beloved, irreverent production back to its theatrical roots, complete with the original Broadway puppets. Leading the 20th-anniversary West End company is Emily Benjamin, pulling double duty in the iconic roles of Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut. She stars alongside Noah Harrison as Princeton and Rod, Meg Hateley as Mrs. T and the Bad Idea Bear, Oliver Jacobson as Brian, Charlie McCullagh as Nicky, Trekkie Monster, and the second Bad Idea Bear, Amelia Kinu Muus as Christmas Eve, and Dionne Ward-Anderson taking on the role of Gary. The talented ensemble is completed by Jasmine Beel, Jonathan Carlton, Angelis Hunt, Lesley Lemon, Jessica Niles Kadi, and Joshua Williams-Ward.
This premier anniversary production is helmed by the musical's original Tony Award-winning Broadway director, Jason Moore. The iconic creative team features music and lyrics by the legendary duo Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, with a witty book by Jeff Whitty, and music orchestrations and arrangements by Stephen Oremus. The distinctive puppets, originally conceived and designed by Rick Lyon, are showcased against an eye-catching set design by Anna Louizos.
Bringing a fresh energy to the milestone run is a top-tier design team, including choreographer Ebony Molina, costume designer Jean Chan, lighting designer Tim Lutkin, and sound designer Paul Groothuis. The production also features video design by Nina Dunn for Pixellux, musical direction by Benjamin Holder, and specialized puppetry coaching from Iestyn Evans and Andy Heath for Talk to the Hand Puppets. Notably, original 2006 West End company member Julie Atherton returns to the Avenue as the production's Associate Director.
