A stage musical adaptation of Władysław Szpilman's wartime memoir The Pianist has confirmed its full company, with Daniel Krikler leading the cast as Szpilman himself.

The production, written and directed by Thom Southerland, will have its world premiere at Mayflower Studios in Southampton from 8 to 12 September 2026, before transferring to Park Theatre in London from 15 October to 28 November (WhatsOnStage). A transfer means the production moves from its original venue into another house for a further run.

The cast are all actor-musicians who perform the score live on stage. The music uses original compositions by Szpilman, the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer whose memoir recounts his survival in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Second World War, with new arrangements by Simon Lee (The Stage). New lyrics come from a team of writers including Carol Connors, David Batteau, Wendy Lands, Jim Gillard, Michael Ruff, Marcy Heisler — and Andreas Szpilman, Władysław Szpilman's son (WhatsOnStage).

Krikler, an LTA alumnus, takes the central role. The company around him includes Rosalind Ford as Mother, TJ Holmes as Father, Nitai Levi as Henryk, Melania Maggiore as Halina, Elżbieta Kalicka as Regina, Mischa Jardine as Janina, Oliver Grant as Hosenfeld and Max Roll in the dual role of Gimpel and Majorek. Oliver Magor and Erin Rowlatt complete the company as ensemble.

The creative team is substantial. Karen Bruce provides choreography and movement direction. Andrzej Goulding designs set and video, Jonathan Lipman costumes, Robbie Butler lighting and Gareth Tucker sound for Autograph Sound. Malcolm Forbes-Peckham is musical director, Josh Whatsize is assistant director, and Ginny Schiller casts with assistance from Ben Armstrong. DEM Productions handles executive producing and general management. The lead producer is Wolk Transfer Company, a Tony-nominated New York-based production company (Wolk Transfer Company).

The story of The Pianist is well known to many from Roman Polanski's 2002 film, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and three Academy Awards. The memoir itself was first published in 1946 under the title Śmierć Miasta (Death of a City) and was out of print for decades before being reissued in English in 1999.

What makes this stage version distinct is the decision to use Szpilman's own compositions as the musical foundation — the actor-musicians play them live, rather than performing from a separate orchestra pit. The effect is that the man's music and his story occupy the same stage space.

The Southampton dates at Mayflower Studios, a 120-seat studio space attached to the larger Mayflower Theatre, come first. The London run at Park Theatre, a 200-seat venue in Finsbury Park, follows for six weeks.