Amy Nuttall and Julian Clary take over the principal roles of Sally Bowles and the Emcee in Rufus Norris’s production of Cabaret at the Lyric from 2 October. They are joined by Angela Richards and Barry James as Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz.
Nuttall replaces Kim Medcalf in the role of Sally, the nightclub singer who throws herself into the dark hedonism of 1930s Berlin. Nuttall has been a familiar face on the West End stage of late, as she comes to Cabaret directly from the hit comedy Boeing Boeing, in which she stars as Gloria until 29 September. Last year she played Sarah Brown in Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly. Her career to date also includes a five-year stint in the soap Emmerdale and a classical solo album, Best Days, which picked up a nomination at the Classical Brit Awards 2006.
Clary steps into the black PVC attire of the Emcee, replacing James Dreyfus. The stand-up comedian and television personality began his career under the guise of The Joan Collins Fan Club, going on to co-write and star in the comedy television shows Terry And Julian and Sticky Moments. He has dabbled with film, appearing in Carry On Columbus and Nick Moran’s comedy Baby Juice, and has become a pantomime regular over the years, starring in regional productions including Dick Whittington and Cinderella. He was last seen in the West End playing Leigh Bowery in Boy George’s Taboo.
Richards, who replaces Honor Blackman in Cabaret, has West End credits including Side By Side By Sondheim, Cats and Blood Brothers. James, who takes over from Francis Matthews, was recently seen in the West End playing Mr Mushnik in Little Shop Of Horrors at the Duke Of York’s and Ambassadors. He has also starred in the shows Les Misérables, Chicago and Beauty And The Beast.
Cabaret opened at the Lyric last October. The Kander and Ebb musical is set in Berlin in 1931 and follows the fortunes of fame-hungry singer Sally, originally played in this production by Anna Maxwell Martin. While Berlin is darkened by the shadow of war and the rise of anti-Semitism, the performers in the Kit Kat Klub revel in their decadent and morally ambiguous lifestyles.
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