HIT MACHINE has officially announced full casting and creative details ahead of its world premiere at London's Soho Theatre. The highly anticipated new play by Jonathan Caren will run at the Dean Street venue from Wednesday 8 July until Saturday 15 August 2026, with a dedicated press night scheduled for Tuesday 21 July.
The production marks the London stage debuts of acclaimed American actors Josh Radnor, internationally recognized for his nine-season run as Ted Mosby in the Emmy-winning comedy series How I Met Your Mother, and Noah Galvin, celebrated for his breakout turn on Broadway in Dear Evan Hansen. The pair will lead the company alongside BAFTA Award-winning music artist, composer, and filmmaker Khalil Madovi.
The narrative delivers a sharply comedic yet emotionally charged exploration of family, legacy, and the music industry. The story follows two estranged brothers who collide with a fast-rising, once-in-a-generation hip-hop talent named Defy, played by Madovi. When a single song becomes a battleground for decades of unspoken resentment, the characters find themselves caught in a complex web of artistic integrity and commercial exploitation, charting exactly what gets lost when the corporate entertainment industry begins feeding on the people who fuel it.
The staging is directed by Daniel Bailey, who recently made a celebrated West End directorial debut with the award-winning production of Red Pitch. The creative team features an original score composed by Ben Harper and CJ Harper, with set and costume design by Amelia Jane Hankin, lighting design by Laura Howard, and sound design handled by Madovi.
Playwright Jonathan Caren, a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference whose writing credits include television dramas The Sinner and We Were the Lucky Ones, brings the piece to London following developments at IAMA’s New Works Fest. Presented by Spiral Stairs Entertainment in association with Soho Theatre, Kater Gordon, and BPM Theatrical, the 90-minute production is recommended for audiences aged 16 and over, with tickets now on sale.
