| Birth date | June 1999 (age 27) |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Bolton |
| Alma mater | Arts Educational Schools |
| Years active | 2021–present |
Jo Foster (formerly Joe Foster, born 1999) is an English actor known for their roles on the West End stages. They[a] are best known for originating the role of Oliver in the musical Why Am I So Single?
Their accolades include nominations for a Laurence Olivier Award and a WhatsOnStage Award.
Early life and education
Foster grew up in Bolton, where they started taking acting lessons at the age of eight as a hobby where they said it helped them develop lifelong friendships. They also grew up on films such as Annie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Oliver!, which helped inspire them to become a performer.[1]
They graduated in musical theatre from the Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick in 2021.[2]
Career
Foster's first role after graduating was in the cast of Luke Sheppard's Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre as featured ensemble in 2021.[3] Also in the cast Alex Thomas-Smith as Angel, Luke Bayer as Mark, Jocasta Almgill as Joanne, Maiya Quansah-Breed as Mimi & Tom Francis as Roger.[4]
In the same year Foster was then part of the cast of the musical Hex at the National Theatre in 2021-2022, with Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Carroll and Delroy Atkinson.[5][6]
In summer 2022, they joined the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Legally Blonde, directed by Lucy Moss, as ensemble/cover Bruiser.[7] The production starred Courtney Bowman as Elle Woods, Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Emmett, Grace Mouat as Pilar and Lauren Drew as Brooke.
In the same year, Foster made their West End debut as May in & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre.[8] They later starred in the World premiere production of Just for One Day at The Old Vic in January 2024.[9]
Foster originated the co-lead role of Oliver in the musical Why Am I So Single? at the Garrick Theatre in 2024, which earned them acclaim for their performance and a WhatsOnStage Award nomination for Best Performer in a Musical.[10][11] Following the show’s closure in January 2025[12], Foster went on to make a limited week-only appearance in The Frogs at Southwark Playhouse as Pluto and starred in a revival of Four Play at the King’s Head Theatre in the summer of 2025.[13][14]
Foster played Jack in the 2025 London revival of Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre, where they received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 2026 Laurence Olivier Awards.[15][16] Foster performed the song Giants in the Sky for the show’s performance at the Laurence Olivier Awards.
Stage credits
| Year(s) | Production | Role | Location | Category | Ref. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Rent | Ensemble | Hope Mill Theatre | Regional | [17] | |
| 2021-2022 | Hex | Prince Scott / Thorn | National Theatre | Off West End | [18] | |
| 2022 | Legally Blonde | Ensemble/Understudy Bruiser | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | Off West End | [19] | |
| 2022-2023 | & Juliet | May | Shaftesbury Theatre | West End | [20] | Final project credited as Joe Foster |
| 2024 | Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical | Bernie | The Old Vic | Off West End | [21] | First project credited as Jo Foster |
| 2024-2025 | Why Am I So Single? | Oliver | Garrick Theatre | West End | [22] | |
| 2025 | The Frogs | Pluto | Southwark Playhouse | Off West End | [23] | One week only guest appearance |
| Four Play | Andy | King’s Head Theatre | Off West End | [24] | ||
| 2025-2026 | Into The Woods | Jack | Bridge Theatre | Off West End | [25] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Why Am I So Single? | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Performer in a Musical | ||
| 2026 | Into the Woods | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | [26] |
Personal life
Jo is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns and also suffers with hearing loss in one ear. They said in a podcast interview that they attended therapy sessions after training at drama school as they felt a lot of their identity became lost within the training programme and that starring in their first professional show Rent amongst actors such as Tom Francis and Iz Hesketh helped them with their gender identity to identify as non-binary.[27]
References
References
- ^ "Rising Star | Jo Foster". Musicals Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ "Rising Star | Jo Foster". Musicals Magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ "Video: Meet the new cast of Rent and see fresh cast portraits". 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Rent revival unveils 2021 cast". 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Hex 2021 | National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Hex in London: Theatre tickets, show details, cast, and more". 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Russo, Gillian (2022-04-04). "'Legally Blonde' sets full cast at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre". London Theatre. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Just For One Day". Old Vic Theatre. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ "Lead cast for Why Am I So Single? West End musical announced". 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards nominations led by Starlight Express, The Artist, David Tennant and Cush Jumbo-led Macbeth and more". 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Rook, Olivia (2024-10-25). "'Why Am I So Single?' to close early in the West End". London Theatre. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "Danielle Steers, Jo Foster, and More Will Join Kevin McHale in THE FROGS". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Four Play to return to London – with cast of West End stars revealed". 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Rook, Olivia (2025-09-16). "Kate Fleetwood, Jo Foster, Jamie Parker, and more join cast of 'Into the Woods'". London Theatre. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ Stage, Guardian (2026-03-05). "Olivier awards 2026: full list of nominations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Video: Meet the new cast of Rent and see fresh cast portraits". 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Hex 2021 | National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ "Legally Blonde". Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ Limited, London Theatre Direct (2022-12-22). "Interview with & Juliet's Joe Foster". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ "Live Aid–Inspired Musical Just for One Day Announces Additional Casting". Playbill. Archived 2025-04-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
- ^ "Why Am I So Single? musical: Creators of Six on their new show". BBC News. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "Danielle Steers, Jo Foster, and More Will Join Kevin McHale in THE FROGS". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ mrmonstagigz (2025-07-14). "THEATRE REVIEW: Four Play starring Jo Foster & Daniel Bravo at King’s Head Theatre". monstagigz. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ Rook, Olivia (2025-09-16). "Kate Fleetwood, Jo Foster, Jamie Parker, and more join cast of 'Into the Woods'". London Theatre. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ Editorial, West End Theatre (2024-12-05). "Whatsonstage Awards 2025 – Nominations announced | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ Call To Stage with Amber Davies (2025-04-23). Jo Foster on Hearing Loss, Identity & Why Am I So Single | Call To Stage with Amber Davies. Retrieved 2026-03-06. – via YouTube.