Honor Blackman to star in West End revival of Cabaret

13-Mar-2007 • Actor News

The hit West End revival of Cabaret will soon welcome a trio of new cast members, according to London Theatre Guide.

On April 2nd, Kim Medcalf will succeed Anna Maxwell Martin as Sally Bowles, while former James Bond girl Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore in "Goldfinger") will replace Sheila Hancock as Fraulein Schneider and Francis Matthews will take over the role of Herr Schultz, previously played by Geoffrey Hutchings.

Cabaret is set in the Kit Kat Klub in Weimar-era Berlin, and concerns flamboyant cabaret singer Sally Bowles, who blinds herself to the political terrors just around the corner. The 1966 Broadway classic features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Joe Masteroff (based on Christopher Isherwood's The Berlin Stories). Cabaret opened on October 10th at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, after beginning previews on September 22nd.

The production, which is directed Rufus Norris (Festen), also stars James Dreyfus as the Emcee and Michael Hayden (Cabaret, Festen, etc. on Broadway, Carousel in London and on Broadway) as Cliff.

Medcalf, best known for her work on the popular UK soap opera "EastEnders," was recently seen on the West End in the revival of Hay Fever starring Dame Judi Dench. Blackman is well-known for playing Bond Girl Pussy Galore in the James Bond classic Goldfinger, as well as for having been featured in "The Avengers." The Sound of Music, Nunsense and the touring production of Trevor Nunn's My Fair Lady are among her theatre credits. Matthews is a TV veteran whose resume includes "Paul Temple," "Heartbeat," and "All About George."