A history of Emcees and Sally Bowleses at London's Kit Kat Club

Tonight, Cabaret raises a toast to 2000 global performances!

Rebecca Frecknall’s landmark revival of the much-loved Kander and Ebb musical has completely transformed London’s Playhouse Theatre into the Kit Kat Club. It boasts an award-winning creative team, a stellar cast that entertains the audiences from the moment you step inside, and front-of-house staff who make you really feel like you’re in 1920s Berlin, willkommen-ing you with a shot of schnapps.

At the centre of each performance are the rotating star casts of Sally Bowles and Emcees, each bringing something truly unique to their portrayal, as recognised by casting director, Stuart Burt.

Take a look back at all of London’s pairings, so far!

A special mention must go out to the alternates, covers, and understudies who keep the Kit Kat Club open. These are Emily Benjamin, Nic Myers, Sally Frith, Anne-Marie Wojna, Matthew Gent, Damon Gould, Andre Refig, Chris O’Mara, Toby Turpin, Travis Ross, Ben Simon Wilson, Liv Alexander and Marina Tavolieri.

Jessie Buckley

Buckley was the very first toast of Mayfair and has a lot of respect for being the blueprint of this new Sally Bowles. As Cabaret swept the 2022 Olivier Awards, the performer earned her trophy. You can hear her, alongside Eddie Redmayne, on the cast recording!

Eddie Redmayne

It was Redmayne’s determination that made this production a reality, and he has stayed devoted, even taking it stateside. His anticipated return to the stage saw him first wearing a green party hat, welcoming audiences, and ending as a blond conformist. It’s a chilling, contorting performance that earned him both WhatsOnStage and the Olivier Awards.

Amy Lennox

The baton was first passed to Lennox, and it started an exciting trend of a rotating cast of stars. Funnily enough, in our exclusive video (which you can watch below), the actress recalls hearing she got the part, and excitedly turning to her husband to declare that Fra Fee would be an amazing Emcee. Little did she know in that moment…

Fra Fee

Fee was the Emcee to Lennox’s Sally Bowles, and it marked the second time the performers had worked together. The duo had previously been seen in The Last Five Years, and as a consequence, became very good friends. As it happens, their favourite moment of the show to perform was “I Don’t Care Much”, where their worlds collide on stage.

Madeline Brewer

Since leaving the Kit Kat Club, Brewer has been seen on screen in a very big way. She starred in the latest season of Netflix’s You, opposite another West End star… Before that, the Emmy nominee was perhaps best known for appearing in The Handmaid’s Tale and Orange Is the New Black, so it was an absolute treat to have her on stage in London.

Callum Scott Howells

Welsh performer Howells has always loved musical theatre and performing, even appearing on Britain’s Got Talent and other talent shows. He enjoyed a big breakthrough when cast in It’s A Sin – a popular TV show that also starred ex-Cabaret cast member Omari Douglas, as well as Olly Alexander and Nathaniel Curtis. Since, he’s continued to perform on stage in Romeo and Julie and Ghosts.

Emily Benjamin

Since stepping into the role of Sally full-time for a couple of weeks at the Kit Kat Club, Emily Benjamin sure has been busy! She appeared in the world premiere of new musicals Bronco Billy and A Knight’s Tale!

Matthew Gent

Just like with Benjamin, lucky guests were able to catch Matthew Gent’s Emcee scheduled for two weeks.

Aimee Lou Wood

WhatsOnStage Award-winner Wood has become something of a national treasure. It could be her unforgettable performances in shows like Sex Education, Daddy Issues, Toxic Town, and The White Lotus, or her fizzy personality doing that on stage in Uncle Vanya, Downstate, Mary Stuart, and People, Places and Things. Wood has stated that theatre is her first love, and we hope to see her back in the West End soon!

John McCrea

Everybody was talking about John McCrea’s return to the stage! After originating the role of Jamie in the hit musical, the WhatsOnStage Award winner took over as Emcee. Our editor-in-chief said his portrayal “feels spectral, less pout-y than the more antagonistic Redmayne – a wry and forlorn observer unable to prevent Germany’s descent into fascism.”

Maude Apatow

As the production entered its second year, it was crucial that the casting never became stale and the show remained as original as it had been. Kudos, as ever, go not only to the cast and casting director but also to associate and resident creatives who work in tandem with Frecknall to add fresh twists and takes. Apatow, who is perhaps best known for Euphoria, made her New York stage debut in Little Shop of Horrors and her London stage debut in Cabaret, within months of one another!

Mason Alexander Park

Park was the first trans person to portray the Emcee in this landmark production (having won an award overseas for playing the role), and made their West End debut! When they were announced to be taking over the role, the WhatsOnStage Award nominee said: “To sing these songs and tell this story as a trans person in a time in which many of the themes of the show are slowly reentering the public consciousness, with politicians targeting my community and the communities at the center of this piece is a harrowing, exciting, and necessary challenge that I am so looking forward to taking on.” Since then, we’ve been fortunate enough to see them in multiple shows this side of the Atlantic, including Jamie Lloyd’s The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing. 

Rebecca Lucy Taylor, also known as Self Esteem

In another turn of fantastic casting, Rebecca Lucy Taylor took on the mint green fur shrug. As a musician, she joked there’d be no need for a Self Esteem musical as Sally’s story is reflective of her own. A vocal fan of theatre, Taylor composed the music for the mega-hit Prima Facie, and we’d love to see more of her on stage – especially after her limited West End ‘quasi-theatrical experience’. Now, we’re all for that Jodie Comer-Self Esteem musical we’ve discussed?

Jake Shears

He might not feel like dancin’ but he did feel like leaving an impression in London! The Scissor Sisters frontman made his West End debut in Cabaret not long after penning lyrics for the Elton John musical Tammy Faye. Shears and Taylor released an EP of songs from the show.

Cara Delevingne

Part of the magic of this formidable production is its determination and dedication to pushing boundaries with casting. While casting huge names, it isn’t pulling stunts, instead recognising talent. The worldwide-recognised model has acted for TV and film previously, but made her stage debut as Sally in her hometown of London, and picked up a WhatsOnStage Award nomination.

Luke Treadaway

The Olivier Award-winning performer made his long-awaited return to the stage in his very first musical as the Emcee, and it was perfectly marvellous!

Rhea Norwood

Our hearts stopped when we heard that Heartstopper star Norwood was West End-bound! Her “Maybe This Time” really pulled on the emotions.

Layton Williams

Williams joined Wood as a WhatsOnStage Award winner for his takeover performance as the Emcee. The casting came hot on the heels of his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, where he danced his way into the finals and won the hearts of viewers everywhere. His star is only on the up, adding an Olivier Award to his mantelpiece after originating the role of the Iceberg in the West End’s Titanique.

Katherine Langford

“Don’t Tell Mama” but there appears to be a tradition of Netflix stars becoming Sally Bowles. Langford, who had a breakout role in 13 Reasons Why, made her stage debut in the production.

Adam Gillen

From Benidorm to Berlin, Olivier Award nominee Adam Gillen assumed the role of the Emcee opposite Langford, and was almost unrecognisable to even his most devoted of fans!

Marisha Wallace

Much-loved stage star Wallace stepped into the Kit Kat Club at the start of the year, making her first public appearance at the Big Night of Musicals. The performance, alongside co-star Billy Porter, was to so much acclaim that the duo is reprising their roles on Broadway – the first to do so after Redmayne.

Billy Porter

Tony Award-winner Porter has had quite the year! He kickstarted it by making his West End debut, then stayed in London to make his directorial debut (directing another Cabaret alum no-less!), and will wrap up the year reprising the role on Broadway and leading La Cage aux Folles. We’re tired just thinking about his diary!

Hannah Dodd

Dodd is the first Bridgerton star to step into Sally Bowles’ shoes! She’s currently making her stage debut as the toast of London, playing opposite a stage veteran.

Rob Madge

No stranger to the stage – they even made a West End show out of their home videos of childhood productions! – Madge is a stage favourite and we were lucky enough to catch them in their dream role at West End Live.

@whatsonstage

ROB MADGE AND HANNAH DODD EMCEE AND SALLY BOWLES AT WEST END LIVE!! #RobMadge #HannahDodd #Cabaret #WestEndLive

♬ original sound – WhatsOnStage