Natalie Kassanga

Natalie Kassanga
Born
Natalie Soni Kassanga

1997 (age 28–29)
Brent, London, England, U.K.
EducationNorthampton College and Sylvia Young Theatre School
OccupationsActress, singer
Years active2007–2010; 2015 – present

Natalie Soni Kassanga (born 1997) is an English actress and singer, known for her work in musical theatre.

Early life and education

Born in Brent, London, Kassanga moved to Milton Keynes at age three, where she grew up in Eaglestone and Bletchley.

Kassanga attended Northampton College[1] and the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

She is a Swahili speaker.[2]

Career

Kassanga began her career as a child. After being discovered by MK Vibe, she made her West End debut in 2007 as Young Nala in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre (Alexia Khadime played Older Nala).[3]

She also formed a band called MjeliK with Natalie Chua and was age eleven when she won the 2008 UK Unsigned singing competition.[4]

Kassanga subsequently featured in Fagin's (Rowan Atkinson) gang in the Oliver! revival at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and as one of the children on the U.K. tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.[5]

Later, she joined the six-piece girl group Alien (or Alien Uncovered); the group auditioned for the 2015 series of The X Factor.[6][7]

In 2018, Kassanga returned to the West End, starring as Diana Ross in Motown: The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre.[8] The following year, she was standby for the roles of Zoe Murphy and Alana Beck in the West End production of Dear Evan Hansen at the Noël Coward Theatre.[9]

After the COVID-19 lockdowns, Kassanga starred as Deena Jones on the U.K. tour of Dreamgirls in 2021.[5] For her performance, Kassanga was nominated for Best Female Performer at the Mousetrap Awards.[10]

In 2023, Kassanga featured in the West End transfer and revival of Crazy for You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, taking over the role of Irene Roth from Merryl Ansah.[11] She also originated the role of Bella in the musical Berlusconi at the Southwark Playhouse.[12] In autumn 2024, Kassanga joined the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre in the lead role of Satine opposite Dom Simpson as Christian.[13][14]

In May 2026 it was announced that Kassanga would replace Grace Mouat in The Jonathan Larson Project at the Southwark Playhouse in the summer of the same year.[15] She joined Max Harwood, Marcus Collins, Michael Mather and Imelda Warren-Green as Woman 2.

Stage

Year Title Role Theatre
2007–2008 The Lion King Young Nala Lyceum Theatre, London
2008–2009 Oliver! Ensemble Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
2009–2010 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Ensemble UK tour
2018 Motown: The Musical Diana Ross Shaftesbury Theatre, London
2019 Dear Evan Hansen standby Zoe Murphy / Alana Beck Noël Coward Theatre, London
2021 Dreamgirls Deena Jones UK tour
2023 Berlusconi Bella Southwark Playhouse, London
2023 Crazy for You Irene Roth Gillian Lynne Theatre, London
2024 Moulin Rouge! Satine Piccadilly Theatre, London
2026 The Jonathan Larson Project Woman 2 Southwark Playhouse

References

  1. ↑ "X Factor performance was out of this world for Alien star Natalie". Northampton College. 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. ↑ "Natalie Kassanga". Damn Good Voices. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  3. ↑ "Natalie's journey from Eaglestone to 'The Lion King' in London's West End" (PDF). Discover Milton Keynes. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  4. ↑ "'Lion Queen' Natalie conquers the UK!". BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 Kebble, Mark (10 January 2022). "Natalie Kassanga On Coming Home With The Dreamgirls". Absolutely. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bletchley girl wows X Factor judges". Leighton Buzzard Observer. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (18 October 2015). "The X Factor 2015: Who are Cheryl's Top 6 Groups? The full list is here". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  8. ↑ Longman, Will (28 March 2018). "Interview - Natalie Kassanga on playing Diana Ross in Motown the Musical". London Theatre. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  9. ↑ McPhee, Ryan (13 September 2019). "London Premiere of Dear Evan Hansen Sets Full Cast". Playbill. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "Natalie Kassanga". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "Cast & Creative - Crazy for You | Gillian Lynne Theatre London". Crazy for You. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  12. ↑ Raven, Simon (24 January 2023). "Berlusconi A New Musical casting announced for Southwark Playhouse". West End Theatre. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  13. ↑ Wild, Stephi (3 September 2024). "Natalie Kassanga and More Join MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL in London". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Swain, Marianka (10 October 2024). "Dom Simpson and Natalie Kassanga on playing star-crossed lovers in 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'". London Theatre. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Natalie Kassanga joins The Jonathan Larson Project European premiere". 5 May 2026. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
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