Lolly Adefope to Make West End Debut in Oh, Mary! at Trafalgar Theatre
BAFTA-nominated actor Lolly Adefope will make her West End debut in Oh, Mary!, taking over the lead role at the Trafalgar Theatre for a 10-week season from 28 September to 5 December. WhatsOnStage
She steps into a part that has already rotated through high-profile performers in London. Cole Esola, who wrote the play, is currently performing the role, and drag performer Jinkx Monsoon — who originated the part on Broadway — will reprise her performance at the Trafalgar from 17 August to 26 September before Adefope takes over. WhatsOnStage
Oh, Mary! is a wartime comedy centring on Mary Todd Lincoln, depicted here as a bored, alcoholic housewife who pines for the cabaret stage. Cole Escola wrote the piece; Sam Pinkleton directs. The play premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in January 2024 and transferred to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre later that same year. Its West End premiere followed at the Trafalgar Theatre in December 2025. WhatsOnStage
For Adefope, the role marks a shift from screen to stage. Born in Sutton, south London, she is best known to television audiences for her roles in the BBC comedy series Ghosts and This Time with Alan Partridge. Her BAFTA nomination and comedy background position her as a recognisable face for audiences who may not yet know the play.
She was in the audience for the West End opening night on 19 December 2025, according to photo agency Alamy, which documented her attendance at the Trafalgar Theatre. Eight months later, she will be on the other side of the curtain.
The play has built momentum through its cast changes on both sides of the Atlantic. A limited West End run with named performers stepping in for defined seasons is a familiar model for commercial theatre — it keeps a production in the public eye while giving audiences a fresh reason to book. The Trafalgar Theatre, operated by Trafalgar Entertainment, is a 1,000-seat venue on Whitehall.
Tickets for Adefope's season are expected to go on sale through the usual channels, with the production's current run already playing to audiences at the Trafalgar.
