Emma Kingston
Emma Esther Kingston is a British stage actress. She is best known for playing Vanessa in the London cast of In the Heights, Eva Perón on the international tour of Evita and Elphaba in Wicked.
Early life and education
Kingston was born at Watford General Hospital to an Argentine mother and a Liverpudlian father, both Jewish. Her maternal grandparents are Argentine and Welsh, with more distant Italian and Turkish roots, while her paternal ancestors had fled to England from Eastern Europe.Kingston attended Immanuel College. She studied acting at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Career
Musical Theatre
Kingston started her acting career playing one of the Divas in the UK tour of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in 2013.In 2014 she starred as Vanessa in the London production of In the Heights, with David Bedella as Kevin, Josie Benson as Camilla, Cleve September as Sonny, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Daniela, Sam Mackay as Usnavi, Lily Frazer as Nina, Sarah Naudi as Carla, Eve Polycarpou as Abuela and Joe Aaron Reid as Benny. The show was directed by Luke Sheppard and choreographed by Drew McOnie, transferred to the King's Cross Theatre, after a successful run and closed in 2016.
Kingston was due to play the role of Luisa in the Hope Mill Theatre revival of Zorro the Musical in March 2020. The show closed after only two previews due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but transferred to London's Charing Cross Theatre in March–May 2022.
In September 2020 Kingston played Kathy in The Last Five Years alongside Waylon Jacobs at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall.
She was Heather Chandler in the cast of Heathers: The Musical from November 2021 to February 2022, when the show returned to The Other Palace for a limited final run, with Ailsa Davidson as Veronica and Freddie King as J.D.
In 2022 Kingston played the titular role in an online-only revival of BKLYN - The musical, with Jamie Muscato playing Taylor and Marisha Wallace in the role of Paradice.
She joined the cast of the European premiere of The Band's Visit, performing at the Donmar Warehouse from September to December 2022. She played the role of Sammy's Wife and the lead character Dina at certain performances.
Kingston then joined a West End star studded cast in Schwartz at 75, two concert performances in celebration of the famous composer, held in September 2023 at the Lyric Theatre. Also in the cast Kerry Ellis, Louise Dearman, Rachel Tucker, Rob Houchen, Jamie Muscato, Sharon Rose, Hiba Elchikhe and Carl Spencer.
In June 2024 Kingston made her debut in New York at 54 Below with her solo show "My Love Letter to New York". Special guests in the show were Rob Houchen and Courtney Reed.
In January 2025, it was announced that Kingston would play Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked from March 2025, alongside Zizi Strallen as Galinda/Glinda.