Newly released production shots are giving us a first look at the newest stars of Cabaret in London's West End, Jake Shears and Rebecca Lucy Taylor (AKA Self Esteem). The pair take over as The Emcee and Sally Bowles (respectively) at the Playhouse Theatre (which has been physically transformed into the Kit Kat Klub) September 25.
Shears and Taylor join a cast that includes Nathan Ives-Moiba as Clifford Bradshaw, Beverley Klein as Fraulein Schneider, and Teddy Kempner as Herr Schultz. Emily Benjamin continues as the production’s alternate Sally Bowles until October 18, with Nic Myers taking over (scheduled to perform once a week) the following day.
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Also joining the company September 25 are Wilf Scolding as Ernst Ludwig, Jessica Kirton as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie, Liv Alexander as Texas, Natalie Chua as Frenchie, Taite-Elliot Drew as Hans, Damon Gould as Victor, El Haq Latief as Helga, and Travis Ross as Bobby, joining Laura Delany as Rosie, Grant Neal as Herman/Max, and Hicaro Nicolai as Lulu. The cast is completed by Rebecca Lisewski, Ela Lisondra, Nic Myers, Andy Rees, Toby Turpin, and Patrick Wilden.
The Prologue company, who welcomes audience members to the Kit Kat Club, features Rachel Benson, Ami Benton, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Joseph Hardy, Liz Kamille, Andrew Linnie, Aine McLoughlin, Jack William Parry, Jazmyn Raikes, Oliver Stockley, and Ena Yamaguchi.
Shears said in an earlier statement, “It is my privilege and honor to play the Emcee in this incredible show. I am especially excited to be sharing the stage with the force that is Self Esteem. This role has been a lifetime dream of mine, and I couldn’t imagine a better production of it to be a part of.”
Taylor added, “I’ve never made a secret of my love of theatre, and I honestly couldn’t be more excited about getting to make my stage debut as one of the greatest leads of all time. I’ve joked for years that there’s no need for a Self Esteem musical really because Sally’s story covers most of the points and here we are. I am both artistically and emotionally raring to take on this challenge. Pinch me!”