Courtney Stapleton

Courtney Jane Stapleton (born 27 August 1993)[1] is a British actress, singer, dancer and photographer. She is best known for playing Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast stage musical in 2022.[2]

Courtney Jane Stapleton
Born (1993-08-27) August 27, 1993
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
  • photographer
Years active2015–present

Early life and education

Stapleton attended Cornwallis Academy and joined the local Hazlitt Youth Theatre.[3] She went on to train at the Arts Educational School (ArtsEd), graduating in 2014.[4][5]

Career

Stapleton made her West End debut in the cast of Mamma Mia in 2015, covering the role of Ali, as well as being part of the ensemble for the show.

She joined the ensemble of Bat Out of Hell in 2017 with the show touring the UK and returning to London twice, at the Coliseum (2017) and the Dominion Theatre (2018).[6]

In October 2019 she moved to the cast of Dear Evan Hansen, premiering in the UK with Sam Tutty making his West End debut in the title role.[7]

Stapleton was announced to have been cast as Belle in the revival of Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 2022. Fellow cast members for this production were Gavin Lee as Lumiere, Sam Bailey as Mrs Potts. The production started as a UK and Ireland tour, subsequently moving to the London Palladium for the 2022 summer season.[8] This version of the show featured new designs and new dance arrangements, including a tap dance moment during "Be Our Guest", specifically created for Gavin Lee.[9]

In June 2023 it was announced that Stapleton will join the cast of the summer concert staging of Love Never Dies as Meg Giry. The version of the musical will be held at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and will star Norm Lewis as Phantom and Celinde Schoenmaker as Christine.[10]

Theatre credits
Year Title Role Theatre
2015 Mamma Mia Ensemble/ Cover Ali Novello Theatre
2016 Les Miserables Ensemble/ Cover Eponine Queen's Theatre
2017 - 2018 Bat Out of Hell Ensemble/ Dance Captain / cover Goddesilla West End and International Tour
2019 Six Swing (Parr and Seymour) Arts Theatre
2019 Dear Evan Hansen Standby Zoe Murphy and Alana Beck Noël Coward Theatre
2020 The Throwaways Audrey The Other Palace
2022 Beauty and the Beast Belle UK Tour and London Palladium
2023 Love Never Dies in concert Meg Giry Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Awards and nominations
Year Work Award Category Result
2022 Beauty and the Beast Black British Theatre Awards LGBTQIA Champion Award[11] Nominated
2022 Beauty and the Beast Black British Theatre Awards Best Female Actor in a Musical Won
2022 Beauty and the Beast BroadwayWorld UK / West End Awards Best Leading Performer in a New Production of a Musical[12] Nominated

References
  1. "Courtney Stapleton | West End Performers | London Theatre Direct". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  2. "Courtney Stapleton: 'Belle is Disney's bookworm'". Disney Tickets UK. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  3. "Kent's new West End talent". Kentish Gazette. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  4. "Profile | Spotlight". www.spotlight.com. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  5. "BA (Hons) Musical Theatre". ArtsEd. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  6. "Bat Out of Hell casting announced – exclusive". 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  7. LTD, THEATRE DOT LONDON. "NEWS | FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR LONDON PREMIERE OF DEAR EVAN HANSEN | Theatre.London · The official home of London Theatre". www.theatre.london. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  8. Stewart, Greg (2022-06-30). "Review: Beauty and the Beast at The London Palladium". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  9. Gans, Andrew (September 29, 2021). "Courtney Stapleton and Emmanuel Kojo Star in U.K. and Ireland Tour of Beauty and the Beast, Opening September 29". Playbill.com.
  10. "Full cast for Love Never Dies at Theatre Royal Drury Lane revealed". 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  11. "Nominees for 2022 Black British Theatre Awards revealed". 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  12. Awards, B. W. W. "Winners Announced for The 2022 BroadwayWorld UK / West End Awards; MOULIN ROUGE Wins Best Musical!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
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