Boy George as Leigh Bowery
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Boy George Returns - Yet Again - to Taboo, 11 Nov

Pop star Boy George, who made his stage acting earlier this year in his self-penned musical Taboo, has obviously been infected with the acting bug. He's now confirmed to return for a third time to the show in the role of the late 1980s performance artist Leigh Bowery, taking over from camp comedian Julian Clary at The Venue in Leicester Square from 11 November 2002 to 1 February 2003.

George (pictured in costume) first appeared for a "strictly limited" six weeks in May and June, then reappeared for five weeks from 5 August, filling in between former Neighbours and Big Breakfast star Mark Little and Clary. Taboo opened at the newly created West End theatre on 29 January 2002 (previews from 11 January) and is now taking bookings up to 31 May 2003.

Boy George was one of Britain's biggest stars in the 1980s and it's from that decade that he takes his inspiration for Taboo. It's the story of Billy, an aspiring photographer who launches himself onto London's vibrant club scene during the "decadent" decade and finds romance in the process. Many of the era's most notorious personalities - including Marilyn, Steve Strange, Leigh Bowery, Philip Sallon and George himself - populate Billy's extraordinary journey.

In addition to Clary, the current cast of Taboo also features David Burt, John Partridge, Lyn Paul, Luke Evans, Dianne Pilkington and Euan Morton, as the young Boy George.

While Taboo includes snippets of some Culture Club classics, George has written an original score with all-new songs including "Ode to Attention Seekers", "Stranger in this World", "Love Is a Question Mark", "Guttersnipe", "Touched by the Hand of Cool", "Out of Fashion" and "Pie in the Sky". The musical has a book (now substantially revised) by This Life writer Mark Davies, with designs by Tim Goodchild, lighting by Chris Ellis and choreography by Les Childs. It is directed by Christopher Renshaw and is produced by Adam Kenwright.

- by Terri Paddock

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