Layton Williams and Rhea Norwood join Cabaret in the West End
New faces at the Kit Kat Club
The producers of the multi award-winning, critically acclaimed West End production of CABARET at the KIT KAT CLUB are delighted to announce new principal casting.
From the 3rd June 2024, star of the Netflix smash hit series Heartstopper Rhea Norwood will play Sally Bowles and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Bad Education star Layton Williams will play The Emcee. They will be joined by Sally Ann Triplett as Fraulein Schneider and Fenton Gray as Herr Schultz.
Rhea Norwood and Layton Williams will play the roles until Saturday 21st September 2024.
Cabaret recently celebrated the milestone of 1000 performances at the Kit Kat Club and is currently booking until February 2025.
Rhea, Layton, Sally Ann and Fenton join Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Clifford Bradshaw, Wilf Scolding as Ernst Ludwig, Jessica Kirton as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie, Liv Alexander as Texas, Natalie Chua as Frenchie, Laura Delany as Rosie, Taite-Elliot Drew as Hans, Damon Gould as Victor, El Haq Latief as Helga, Grant Neal as Herman/Max, Hicaro Nicolai as Lulu and Travis Ross as Bobby. The cast is completed by Rebecca Lisewski, Ela Lisondra, Nic Myers, Andy Rees, Toby Turpin and Patrick Wilden.
Nic Myers plays the role of Sally Bowles once a week.
The prologue company are Rachel Benson, Ami Benton, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Joseph Hardy, Liz Kamille, Andrew Linnie, Aine McLoughlin, Jack William Parry, Jazmyn Raikes, Oliver Stockley and Ena Yamaguchi.
The Prologue Company
The experience for Cabaret begins as soon as you walk through the (back) door of the venue - where a company of nine actors, musicians and dancers will welcome you to the Kit Kat Club.
The prologue company are Rachel Benson, Ami Benton, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Joseph Hardy, Liz Kamille, Andrew Linnie, Aine McLoughlin, Jack William Parry, Jazmyn Raikes, Oliver Stockley and Ena Yamaguchi.
Where is the Kit Kat Club?
Audiences will have the opportunity to see the musical like never before as it's performed at the Kit Kat Club, with a capacity of just 550!
Theatre owners ATG confirmed that the Playhouse Theatre that will be transformed into the iconic club. ATG said: 'The Kit Kat Club has taken over the Playhouse Theatre while it has been standing empty. The marginalised have staked a claim, the artists have taken over, filled their container and found their community. Who knows how long it will reside here. For now, we’re enjoying the party. The party at the end of the world'.
Who directed Cabaret?
The production was directed by Rebecca Frecknall who has said: “It’s such a privilege to have the opportunity to direct Cabaret, a show that has always been dear to my heart. It’s thrilling to be able to approach this classic and important musical at a time when its themes and atmosphere feel so contemporary and resonant.”
“I’m in awe of my incredible creative team who have come together to create a bold new production as well as a new ‘Kit Kat Club’, a bespoke home where we can truly embrace and unlock the world of Cabaret for a new audience”.
What is Cabaret about?
Based on the play by John Van Druten, which itself was based on the stories of Christopher Isherwood, Cabaret takes us back to Berlin in 1929-30 where the Kit Kat Klub is the epicentre of bohemian life and queer expression. However the Nazi's rise to power forces many of the characters to flee the country.
The music and lyrics were written by John Kander and Fred Ebb. The musical features classics such as 'Wilkommen', 'Don't Tell Mama', and 'Maybe This Time'.
How can I see Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club?
Tickets for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club are available online.
Is there a Cabaret 2021 cast recording?
Yes there is! The 2021 cast recording of Cabaret was released on 20th January 2023 and features the original cast of this revival including Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley.
Cabaret 2021 track listing
- Willkommen (Eddie Redmayne as ‘The Emcee’)
- So What (Liza Sadovy as ‘Fraulein Schneider’)
- Don't Tell Mama (Jessie Buckley as ‘Sally Bowles’)
- Mein Herr (Jessie Buckley)
- Perfectly Marvellous (Jessie Buckley, Omari Douglas as ‘Cliff Bradshaw’)
- Two Ladies (Eddie Redmayne, Sally Frith as ‘Frenchie’, Sophie Maria Wojna as ‘Rosie’)
- It Couldn't Please Me More (Liza Sadovy, Elliot Levey as ‘Herr Schultz’)
- Tomorrow Belongs To Me (Eddie Redmayne)
- Maybe This Time (Jessie Buckley)
- Money (Eddie Redmayne)
- Married (Elliot Levey, Liza Sadovy, Anna Jane Casey as ‘Fraulein Kost’)
- Tomorrow Belongs To Me – Reprise (Anna Jane Casey, Stewart Clarke as ‘Ernst Ludwig’)
- Kickline
- If You Could See Her (Eddie Redmayne)
- What Would You Do? (Liza Sadovy)
- I Don't Care Much (Eddie Redmayne)
- Cabaret (Jessie Buckley)
- Finale (Omari Douglas, Eddie Redmayne)
Has Cabaret won any awards?
The current revival of Cabaret was the big player at the 2022 Olivier Awards with the musical taking home seven wins including the Magic Radio Best Musical Revival. They also won in all four musical acting categories - which hasn't happened before.
With seven Olivier Awards the musical holds the record for most Olivier Awards for a musical alongside Hamilton and Matilda The Musical who also received seven wins.
Will there be a ticket lottery?
Yes, a £25 ticket lottery is available via TodayTix.
Every winner of the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival
1991 - Show Boat
The first ever winner in this category was the Opera North and Royal Shakespeare Company's co-production of Show Boat which ran at the London Palladium in 1990.
1992 - The Boys from Syracuse
The Boys From Syracuse is a Rogers and Hart musical based on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. This production ran at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in the summer of 1991 and was directed by none other than Dame Judi Dench.
1993 - Carousel
The National Theatre's first win in this category was their revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel which enjoyed a sellout limited run from December 1992 to March 1993. The revival then re-opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in September of that year.
1994 - Sweeney Todd
Alun Armstrong and Julia McKenzie starred in the first London revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd. The production ran at the Cottesloe Theatre (now named the Dorfman) from June 1993 before transferring to the Lyttleton Theatre December of that year.
1995 - She Loves Me
She Loves me was revived at the Savoy Theatre and was directed by Scott Ellis and choreographed by Rob Marshal, the pair had just done a Broadway revival of She Loves Me the year prior.
The West End revival starred John Gordon Sinclair and Ruthie Henshall with the pair both winning Best Actor and Actress in a Musical.
1997 - The Who's Tommy
This year the name of the award changed to Outstanding Musical Production, which lasted through until 2007.
This rock musical is based on the 1969 rock opera, Tommy by The Who.
1998 - Chicago
In 1997, the Broadway revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago transferred to the West End with Ute Lemper as Velma Ruthie Henshall as Roxie. The West End revival ran until 2012 and the Broadway revival is still running to this day!
1999 - Oklahoma!
The National Theatre revived Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma in 1998 with a cast that included Hugh Jackman as Curly, Maureen Lipman as Aunt Eller, Josefina Gabrielle as Laurey and Shuler Hensley as Jud Fry.
2000 - Candide
A second win in a row for the National Theatre with their 1999 production of Candide which includes music by West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein.
2001 - Singin' in the Rain
The West Yorkshire Playhouse's production of Singin' in the Rain directed by Jude Kelly quickly got a West End transfer and ran at the National's Olivier Theatre for a month in 2000.
2002 - My Fair Lady
The National continued their winning streak with their production of My Fair Lady which starred Martine McCutcheon as Eliza and Jonathan Pryce as Higgins. The production then transferred to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane after four months.
2003 - Anything Goes
The National Theatre got their fifth win in a row with their production of Anything Goes which starred Sally Ann Triplett, John Barrowman and Yao Chin. Like My Fair Lady, the production then transferred to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
2004 - Pacific Overtures
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Pacific Overtures transferred to the Donmar Warehouse where it ran for a short period in 2003.
2005 - Grand Hotel
A second win a row for the Donmar Warehouse with their revival of Grand Hotel starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
2006 - Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls was revived at the Piccadilly Theatre running between 2005 and 2007. The cast of this production originally included Ewan McGregor as Sky, Jenna Russell as Sarah, Jane Krakowski as Adelaide and Douglas Hodge as Nathan Detroit.
2007 - Sunday in the Park with George
The Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George transferred to the West End at the Wyndham's Theatre in 2006. The West End production starred Daniel Evans as George and Jenna Russell as Dot, both of whom won Olivier Awards for their respective roles.
2008 - The Magic Flute
After a run in Cape Town and at the Young Vic, The Magic Flute transferred to the West End with a run at the Duke of York's Theatre.
2009 - La Cage Aux Folles
Following the success of the Menier Chocolate Factory's scaled down production of La Cage Aux Folles, it got a West End transfer at the Playhouse Theatre with Douglas Hodge as Albin.
The success of the revival saw it get a Broadway transfer with Douglas reprising his role.
2010 - Hello Dolly!
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre started a streak of wins in this category with their revival of Hello Dolly! which starred Samantha Spiro in the titular role.
2011 - Into the Woods
The second win in this streak was for their revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods - which was very fitting for an open air theatre!
2012 - Crazy For You
Ira and George Gershwin's Crazy For You was Regent's Park's third win in a row for this category. This production got an extended life when it transferred to the Novello Theatre in October 2011.
2013 - Sweeney Todd
Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd broke an Olivier record this year when it became the first musical to win Best Musical Revival for a second time. This production began at the Chichester Festival Theatre and transferred to the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2012.
2014 - Merrily We Roll Along
Stephen Sondheim got a second win in a row for this category with the West End transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Merrily We Roll Along which ran at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
2015 - City of Angels
Cy Coleman, David Zippel, and Larry Gelbart's City of Angels was revived at the Donmar Warehouse in 2014 directed by Josie Rourke.
2016 - Gypsy
Another win for Sondheim (as a lyricist at least) with the West End transfer of the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Gypsy which starred Imelda Staunton in the iconic role of Mamma Rose.
2017 - Jesus Christ Superstar
The first Andrew Lloyd Webber revival to win this award was the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar. This production went on to get runs in the US as well as the Barbican Centre in London.
The production returned to Regent's Park as a socially distanced concert in the summer of 2020.
2018 - Follies
The winner in 2018 was the National Theatre's revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies which starred Peter Forbes as Buddy, Imelda Staunton as Sally, Janie Dee as Phyllis, Philip Quast as Ben and Tracie Bennett as Carlotta.
The production was filmed and screened in cinemas as well as making a return to the Olivier Theatre in 2019.
2019 - Company
A modern reimagining of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company saw the leading role gender-swapped and played by Rosalie Craig. Patti LuPone reprised the role of Joanne (which she played in the 2011 Broadway concert).
The production is now running on Broadway.
2020 - Fiddler on the Roof
The Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Fiddler on the Roof directed by Trevor Nunn got a West End transfer. The West End production opened at the Playhouse Theatre in March 2019.
2022 - Cabaret
London's Playhouse Theatre has been transformed into the Kit Kat Club for this brand new revival of Cabaret directed by Rebecca Frecknall. As well as winning Best Musical Revival the production won in all four acting categories and now joins Hamilton and Matilda as one of the most awarded musicals with a total of seven wins.
2023 - Oklahoma!
Following a Tony-winning run on Broadway, Daniel Fish's stripped down revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! transferred to the Young Vic in London. Since then it transferred to the West End at the Wyndham's Theatre.
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