Get to know the 'Ted Lasso' cast's theatre history

With Phil Dunster starring in Brace Brace at the Royal Court, learn all about his stage career and those of his co-stars, including Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham and Toheeb Jimoh.

In 2020, the world fell in love with Jason Sudeikis’s deceptively wise, moustachioed coach Ted Lasso. Star of the Apple TV+ comedy, this American fish-out-of-water who transforms the culture of English football team AFC Richmond – and makes plenty of friends along the way. Ted lives by the words of Walt Whitman: “Be curious, not judgemental.”

Well, if you’re curious to know what the talented Ted Lasso cast are up to now, the good news is that Phil Dunster – aka the team’s brilliant striker, Jamie Tartt – is making a return to theatre. In October 2024, he’s appearing in the intriguing new play Brace Brace at the Royal Court.

Of course, Dunster isn’t the only actor from the show with serious theatre pedigree, so ahead of your trip to see him in Brace Brace – and as we await the recently teased season four of Ted Lasso – learn all about the cast’s impressive stage history.

Book Brace Brace tickets on London Theatre.

Phil Dunster

Dunster’s Ted Lasso character, talented player Jamie Tartt, begins as something of a villain: a spoiled prima donna who takes girlfriend Keeley for granted. But he gradually deepens via his unlikely friendship with veteran footballer-turned-coach Roy Kent and as we came to understand his tough relationship with his dad.

In 2016 Dunster appeared in the Kenneth Branagh-led The Entertainer in the West End, and in August 2024, he played Curly in a concert run of Oklahoma!. Now he’s starring in Brace Brace, a new play about a couple dealing with the aftermath of a plane hijacking, alongside Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts, Olivier winner for A Streetcar Named Desire).

Hannah Waddingham

Theatre audiences adored Waddingham long before she became a global star thanks to her role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. Her character has had a wonderful journey too, going from angry divorcée trying to run AFC Richmond into the ground to spite her ex to a liberated, independent, and caring woman.

But we already knew Waddingham had terrific range from her many stage roles, such as the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot (in the West End and on Broadway), the Witch in Into the Woods at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and Lili Vanessi in Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic. Might we see a grand return to theatre soon? Let’s hope so!

Toheeb Jimoh

Breakout star Jimoh won hearts as the sensitive, romantic and morally courageous Sam Obisanya in Ted Lasso. This skilful Nigerian player is still a possible love interest for Rebecca, and he’s shown that he’s not afraid to stand up for his beliefs – even if doing so could cost him dearly.

Jimoh brings all of that charisma, tenderness and commitment to theatre too. He particularly impressed as Romeo in Rebecca Frecknall’s propulsive production of Romeo and Juliet at the Almeida Theatre in 2023, and he went toe to toe with Ian McKellen in Player Kings in the West End earlier this year.

Jason Sudeikis

The co-creator and star of Ted Lasso, Sudeikis helped to turn a one-off joke character, originally part of a series of TV commercials for NBC Sports, into a thoughtfully crafted beacon of kindness and hope, who nevertheless has his own demons to confront as he struggles to process his father’s death.

Sudeikis’s work has largely been on screen, with roles in everything from 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live to Horrible Bosses, but he did begin his career on stage with legendary improv group Second City. In 2016, he played John Keating in an Off-Broadway production of Dead Poets Society.

Anthony Head

Head is deliciously evil as Rupert Mannion, Rebecca’s nasty, manipulative, unfaithful ex-husband – and the man who seduces kit man-turned-coach Nate Shelley over to the dark side (aka rival club West Ham United). He’s the anti-Ted Lasso and a necessary counterbalance in the generally optimistic show.

It’s also a far cry from his best-known TV character, Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but theatre fans know Head can handle a diverse mix of roles. His numerous stage credits include a fabulous Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, and Flan Kittredge in Six Degrees of Separation.

Jeremy Swift

Leslie Higgins, the director of football operations for the beleagured AFC Richmond, initially seems like rather a sad sack, but he blossoms under Ted’s leadership, becomes a real ally to Rebecca, and actually has the best home life of everyone with a loving marriage and kids – a home he opens up to the players at Christmas.

It’s a lovely role for Jeremy Swift, whose other screen projects include Gosford Park and Downton Abbey. But he’s done plenty on stage too, such as Abigail’s Party at the Hampstead Theatre, The 39 Steps in the West End, The Railway Children at King’s Cross Theatre, and The Importance of Being Earnest, also in the West End.

Brendan Hunt

Ted’s assistant Coach Beard begins the show as a man of mystery – and of few words, in contrast to his bubbly pal. That makes it all the more fascinating when he drops hints about his extraordinary life, including a wild romance and a dark past. Ted was there for him at his lowest point, which is why he’s so fiercely loyal.

Actor Hunt, who co-created Ted Lasso, began on stage in comedy troupes like Second City and Boom Chicago. He also wrote and performed a one-man show, Five Years in Amsterdam, did several shows with the Sacred Fools Theater Company, and starred in an adult parody of Peanuts called Absolutely Filthy in New York and LA.

Sarah Niles

Niles was an inspired addition to Ted Lasso in season two as the uncompromisingly direct sports psychologist Dr Sharon Fieldstone. She saw right through Ted’s folksy bluster and helped him to deal with his underlying issues, as well as aiding several other members of the team. She even accepted friendship from Ted in return.

Luckily for theatre audiences, Niles is a regular on stage too. Her recent projects include Three Sisters at the National Theatre, The Crucible at the Old Vic, Antony and Cleopatra at the RSC and the Public Theatre in New York, Richard II at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Glass, Kill, Bluebeard, Imp at the Royal Court.

Harriet Walter

When it comes to messy TV mums, Walter has recently cornered the market with her matriarchs in Succession and Ted Lasso. She plays Rebecca’s mother in the latter, a needy woman in a miserable marriage who nevertheless refuses to leave Rebecca’s father – a complex dynamic that likely affected Rebecca’s own choices.

Walter is also a titan of the theatre. Her numerous acclaimed shows include her Olivier-winning Three Sisters for the RSC, Arcadia and The House of Bernarda Alba at the National Theatre, Mary Stuart in the West End and on Broadway (Tony nominated), and the Donmar Warehouse’s all-female Shakespeare trilogy, also in New York.

Photo credits: Danny Kaan, Manuel Harlan, Joan Marcus, Tristram Kenton, Marc Brenner, Kaitlyn Flannagan, Johan Persson