Self Esteem and Jake Shears to star in West End show ‘Cabaret’
‘I am both artistically and emotionally raring to take on this challenge,’ shared Self Esteem
Self Esteem and Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears are set to take on leading roles in the West End hit musical Cabaret.
Shears will play Emcee in the show – which was revived in late 2021 at the Playhouse Theatre – while Rebecca Lucy Taylor, AKA Self Esteem, will take on the role of Sally Bowles from Monday, September 25 until January 20.
Emcee has previously been performed by celebrities including Eddie Redmayne, Neil Patrick Harris and Alan Cumming, while Sally Bowles was was first played by Jessie Buckley in the 2021 revival. The current cast includes Maude Apatow as Bowles and Mason Alexander Park as Emcee.
Taylor’s role in the Oliver Award-winning show will mark her theatrical debut. You find show dates and buy tickets here.
Cabaret is set in 1929-1930 and follows the story of American writer Clifford Bradshaw and Sally Bowes, a cabaret singer who moonlights at the seedy Kit Kat Club in Berlin. It features songs including ‘Wilkommen’, ‘Don’t Tell Mama’, ‘Money’ and the title number.
Speaking about the role in a press statement, Shears said: “It is my privilege and honour 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.”
Self Esteem 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!”
Elsewhere, Self Esteem, Wolf Alice and Mel C teamed up for the Lionesses’ World Cup anthem last month.
The track, which references the match-winning performance of Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone in last year’s EUROs final, served as an “unofficial” anthem after the FA stopped commissioning official songs after the Brazil World Cup in 2014.
Another July highlight for Self Esteem was performing at Wembley Stadium in a support slot for Blur. You can check out Rolling Stone UK’s exclusive photos here.