The Last Five Years Casting For Built By Barn Production

Casting has been announced for a new production of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years.

The new production of The Last Five Years is a Built by Barn production from Barn Theatre, Reading Rep Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath. It will star Martha Kirby as Kathy and Guy Woolf as Jamie.

The hit musical follows two New Yorkers in a relationship that’s lasted five years so far. The question is whether they can remain united as their lives move in different directions.

A twisting plot sees Jamie’s side of the story start at the moment they meet. Cathy’s story starts at the end moving backwards. The pair meet once in the middle.

It’s a smart, entertaining and heartfelt musical.

Director Hal Chambers said that he’s been longing to direct the show for over 20 years, being a “passionate admirer” of Jason Robert Brown’s work. He called the storytelling music and emotional depth in the show “unmatched”.

“The narrative structure, with Cathy moving backwards through time and Jamie forwards, creates a compelling theatrical puzzle reminiscent of a Christopher Nolan film,” he says.

“It feels like a haunting memory play – dreamlike, poetic, and full of magical realism. Our production will lean into that, using bold imagery and movement to explore the ghosts of a relationship and the raw beauty of love and heartbreak. The music is breath-taking – joyful, witty, devastating – and I can’t wait to bring it to life with our cast. Performed in intimate venues, our vision promises a deeply personal and emotionally resonant Last Five Years that captures the show’s unique intimacy and power.”

The Last Five Years will be at:
Reading Rep Theatre 19 September – 11 October
Barn Theatre 17 October – 15 November 2025
Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath 25 November – 03 January 2026

Cast and Creatives
Jamie – Guy Woolf
Cathy – Martha Kirby
Actor Musician – Wills Mercado on Guitar
Actor Musician – Angus Tikka on Bass Guitar
Actor Musician – Rebecca Demmer on Cello
Musical Director and Piano – Ellie Verkerk-Hughes

Director – Hal Chambers
Set and Costume – Ethan Cheek
Lighting Design – Jonathan Chan
Sound Design – Matthew Giles
Movement Director – Georgina Lamb
Casting – Harry Blumenau CDG

Home: https://backstagebristol.com/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chopsybristol.bsky.social
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@chopsybristoltt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backstagebristol
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chopsybaby