Samantha Barks will take on the role of Elsa in ‘Frozen’ on London’s West End

Words: Steve Brown

Samantha Barks has been cast as Frozen’s Queen Elsa in London’s West End version of Frozen.

Earlier this year, producers confirmed the musical, which opened in New York last year and has been nominated for three Tony Awards, will arrive at the Drury Lane Theatre in Autumn 2020.

Now, it appears they have found their star and it comes in the form of none other than Les Misérables star Samantha Barks – who played the tragic Eponine in the hit 2012 movie adaptation – according to the Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye.

Thank you @BazBam ❄️❄️ I am beyond excited to take on Elsa and so thrilled to be a part of the @frozenlondon family!! #letthestormrageon @MichaelGrandage @Disney ❄️❄️ https://t.co/KqNODInKkQ

— Samantha Barks (@SamanthaBarks) December 5, 2019

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Barks said: “When Elsa sang ‘Let It Go’ in the film, my jaw hit the floor.

“I’ve had a ‘Let It Go’ moment. Everybody has had a Let It Go moment!

“Elsa has got to learn to control her powers. She’s a strong woman, and all of a sudden she’s saying, ‘I’m not going to hold back any more!’

“That’s so powerful, especially for a young girl. Actually, not just females…men are touched by that song, too.

“The whole show demonstrates the strength of two sisters. There’s no Prince Charming riding in on a white horse. The sisters save each other.”

The stage version closely follows the plot of the original film, but features 12 new songs alongside all your favourites like ‘Do You Want To Build A Snowman?’, ‘Love Is An Open Door’ and ‘Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People’. (Just us? Ok then).

The Broadway show has received middling reviews but strong ticket sales, and with Frozen 2 set to hit cinemas on November 22, Disney fans are likely to be knocking down the doors of the Drury Lane Theatre come autumn next year.