Glorious - the true story of the worst singer in the world

Show poster.

Glorious written by Peter Quilter and directed by Kirk Jameson at the Belgrade Theatre from 19 – 23 May 2026.

Preview

Florence Foster Jenkins is about to blow your mind… and possibly your eardrums. Glorious! follows Florence’s journey as she prepares for her concerts, builds an unlikely friendship with her accompanist, Cosme, and defies her critics to follow her dreams.

Dubbed ‘the worst singer in the world,’ Glorious! is the true story of American socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, who was known for her flamboyant costumes, enigmatic performances, and decidedly off-key voice.

Starring Wendi Peters (Coronation Street) as Florence Foster Jenkins and Matthew James Morrison (EastEnders), as Cosme McMoon, in this 20th anniversary production, this hilarious production is the feel-good comedy we’ve been waiting for.

At the start of the show's 20th anniversary UK tour, Richard Barber interviewed Wendi Peters and Matthew James Morrison - here’s what the actors had to say:

Wendi: In March 2025 I was Florence at the Hope Mill theatre in Manchester. We had a ball but it was hard work. I had to learn to sing opera badly. I’m a musical theatre performer; I started my career in productions like Guys and Dolls and Sondheim’s Into the Woods. More recently, I was in Sister Act.

Q. Can you sing in tune?

Wendi: I can so it’s proved quite a challenge to sing off-key. Florence sings four big numbers in the play including Mozart’s Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute. I started by learning it note perfect. Then, with the help of the musical director, we tweaked certain notes that I’d sing flat or where I’d get the phrasing wrong.

Q. Do you think Florence knew how hopeless a singer she was?

Wendi: I wonder. I think it must sometimes have crossed her mind that audiences were laughing at her rather than with her and there would be a reason for that. On the other hand, she got her wish to perform to 3000 people at Carnegie Hall which would have bankrupted her if the concert hadn’t sold out. So, the woman had chutzpah. But whatever she might be doing wrong, she could see that she was loved, see that she entertained audiences.

Q. You’re best known for playing Cilla Battersby in Corrie. How did that change your life?

Wendi: I’d been working for 10 years when I got the role of Cilla but there’s no doubt she opened a lot of doors for me. Glorious! is a case in point. So, I’m grateful to her although, within a week of appearing in Corrie, I was being stopped in the street. You don’t realise the power of a soap until you actually appear in one as a regular character.

Richard then had some questions for Matthew James Morrison who plays Cosme McMoon, Florence’s piano accompanist.

Q: So, Matthew, how are you feeling about this new venture?

Matthew: I regard it as both a challenge and a reward. I was part of the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Film Academy, and I’ve also appeared in a number of short films as well as stage plays, the most recent at Greenwich in Blue/Orange, Joe Penhall’s bleakly comic look at race and mental illness.

Q: Why do you think you were offered the part?

Matthew: I don’t know. These things just happen. Cosme is Florence’s pianist. I can’t play the piano so I’ve had to learn how to look as though I know what I’m doing, more of a challenge than you might imagine although the audience can’t ever see my hands which makes it a little bit easier.

Q: Is it fair to say that you have Felix (Eastenders) to thank for landing this plum part?

Matthew: Oh yes, by far and away my most high-profile role was in EastEnders. After three years, almost to the day, between July 2022 and July 2025, I was the out-and-proud Felix, flirting with any boy who appeared on my radar and never missing an opportunity for a spot of karaoke in full drag at the Queen Vic. Fabulous fun.

Glorious, the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins runs from 19 - 23 May 2026.

For tickets: https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/glorious/