Full casting announced for Taboo revival in Brixton

As previously announced, Paul Baker will reprise his role as club promoter Philip Sallon in the production, which is helmed by the show’s co-creator and original director, Whatsonstage.com Award-winner Christopher Renshaw.

Baker will be joined in the principal cast by: The Voice contestant Sam Buttery as Leigh Bowery; newcomer Matthew Rowland as Boy George; Alistair Brammer as Billy; Sarah Ingram as Billy’s mother Josie; Michael Matus as Derek/Petal; Niamh Perry as Kim; Adam Bailey as Marilyn; Owain Williams as Steve Strange; Katie Kerr as Sue Tilley; and Daniella Bowen as Janey.

The ensemble is completed by Zeph Gould, Alex Hammond and Jennifer Hepburn.

Taboo centres on Billy, an aspiring photographer, who launches himself onto London’s vibrant club scene during the “decadent” 80s. He encounters many of the era’s most notorious personalities – including Marilyn, Steve Strange, Leigh Bowery, Philip Sallon and Boy George himself.

While the show includes snippets of some Culture Club classics, George also penned an original score with 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 premiered on 29 January 2002 (previews from 11 January) at The Venue, a theatre space specially created in the crypt of a church off Leicester Square in London. The West End production closed on 26 April 2003 after an oft-extended run of 15 months, before George revived his performance for the Tony-nominated 2004 Broadway transfer.

Its run at Brixton Club House is produced by Danielle Tarento and Bronia Buchanan and marks the new venue’s first foray into theatre.

The creative team also features choreographer Frank Thompson, set designer Tim Goodchild, costumes designer Mike Nicholls and book writer Mark Davies Markham.