Sadler’s Wells announces the Cast and Creatives of ‘Ebony Scrooge’
Sadler’s Wells has announced the cast for the world premiere of Ebony Scrooge as well as the creatives behind the production. This is the first ever Christmas show at Sadler’s Wells East, as well as the first Christmas show from Zoonation: The Kate Prince Company. A brand-new adaptation and bold retelling of A Christmas Carol, blending hip hop, comedy and physical theatre, Ebony Scrooge is a ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Sadler’s Wells production.
The family friendly hip hop dance theatre show is brought to life by East London born and raised writer, director and choreographer Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe. The award-winning choreographer is Associate Artistic Director of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company. Rhimes has worked across theatre, film and tv and choreographed for the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Rhimes is basing the show on her personal experience, taking inspiration from revisiting her own Caribbean roots. The show will feature original music from Sky Arts and Olivier Award-winning Boy Blue Co-Artistic Director Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE.
Creatives announced include the following; set design is by Joanna Scotcher, lighting design by Charlie Morgan Jones and sound design by Sarah Victoria. Costume design is by Natalie Pryce who recently designed the costumes for Sadler’s Wells co-production Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet. Giulia Gallon will be costume supervisor and Le Fil (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK) is associate costume designer and stylist. Bradley Charles is associate director and associate choreographer; Shakara Brown is assistant choreographer & resident director and Lou Cope is dramaturg.
The new festive family show follows Ebony, the formidable fashion designer behind a renowned fashion empire who has cancelled Christmas to focus on her landmark fashion show. Surrounded by wealth, style and success, Ebony embarks on a journey as she is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present (here split into two roles) and future, and rediscovers her Caribbean roots, and the true meaning of happiness.
Leah Hill takes on the lead role of fashion designer Ebony Scrooge. An accomplished performer and choreographer, Leah’s career spans West End, international theatre, and film. She won the 2022 Black British Theatre Award for her choreography in The Wiz at Hope Mill Theatre and has worked on major projects like Kinky Boots, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and as assistant choreographer for the Oscar-nominated WICKED: PART 1 and PART 2. Her credits include the original London cast of Hamilton, West Side Story, and Thriller Live!, with appearances in Disney’s live-action Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. Leah is set to choreograph the 2026 UK revival of Legally Blonde.
Portia Oti plays Freddie / Past. A versatile performer, Portia trained with Boy Blue and ZooNation, shaping her unique hip-hop theatre style. Her stage credits include leading roles in Message In A Bottle, Groove on Down the Road, and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. On screen, she’s appeared in Farming and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, with TV credits including Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing. Portia has also choreographed for high-profile events like the We Day concerts.
Liberty Greig portrays Dee / Pre. She previously played Lavender in Matilda the Musical and appeared in Nativity, Jingle Jangle, and Matilda the Movie. Dancing since age three, Liberty trained with ZooNation Youth Company, Flawless, and Boy Blue. She is currently studying at Base Performing Arts College.
Deavion Brown plays Tren / Sent. Trained at TDM Stage School in hip-hop and later at LIPA in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance, Deavion graduated in 2019. His credits include Thriller Live, the film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Disney’s Snow White (2025), Netflix’s Dance 100, and WICKED: PART 2. He recently joined the international tour of Message In A Bottle.
Malachi Welch takes on Bob / Future. A performer since age three, Malachi’s stage credits include Young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King, ZooNation’s The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Traplord at 180 Strand, and Sylvia at the Old Vic. He toured internationally with ZooNation and Sadler’s Wells’ production of Message In A Bottle and has featured in the film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Stormzy’s Vossi Bop music video. Malachi has performed at Glastonbury with LittleSimz, the Joy Awards 2025 with Christina Aguilera, and the MTV EMAs with Busta Rhymes and the Pet Shop Boys.
The rest of the company announced today includes, in alphabetical order, Elijah Smith, Jackie Kibuka, Lindon Barr, Megan Ingram, Melissa Bravo, Robert Dunkley-Gyimah and Sia Gbamoi. Many of the cast started out with the ZooNation Youth Company, as well as a number from the ZooNation Young Artists Training Scheme.
The first Christmas show at Sadler’s Wells East will round off the first year at the new theatre, which opened in February and will have staged over 30 dance productions in its auditorium in 2025 alongside a programme of free performances, events and workshops across the building. Sadler’s Wells East is a powerhouse for dance in the UK and is home to six state-of-the-art dance studios for creating and producing new work. Ebony Scrooge will be rehearsed in the Martha Graham Studio and is the third Sadler’s Wells production to be created in the new building, following the inaugural show Our Mighty Groove and Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet.
The show opens this November, with the world premiere of Ebony Scrooge running from Wednesday 26 November – Sunday 4 January 2026. Tickets are on sale from £15 at sadlerswells.com
L-R Malachi Welch, Portia Oti, Leah Hill, Deavion Brown, Liberty Greig, Image credit Sadler’s Wells