NEWS! Eddie returns to the stage this November

  He's in negotiations to play the role of the Emcee in Cabaret. 

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Baz Bamigboye revealed in his article that "Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne

is close to fulfilling his dream... of playing the decadent master of ceremonies

in the classic musical Cabaret in the West End. And he is tipped to share

the stage with Jessie Buckley, who will play Sally Bowles."

The new production of Cabaret is due to begin performances at the

Playhouse Theatre, near the Embankment in London, in early November.

Read more about the new theatre project here

Hopefully, I'll have a good reason to travel to London this fall.

I have to see him on stage in this role. I bet he will be fantastic.

Eddie played the role of Emcee in Cabaret first in 1999 in Eton. James Parry reviewed

the JRC show in Eton College Chronicle: "...There were many stars of this excellent

performance but despite the outstanding quality on display, one actor still stood out

head and shoulders above the rest. This was, of course, Eddie Redmayne whose

performance in every respect was sensational. He was the master of ceremonies of the

Kit-Kat bar and this title could not have been more apt. Eddie really did run the show;

One could feel the audience focus even more as they found themselves captivated

by this truly mesmerizing acting. Eddie held the audience in his hands, almost literally.

His singing was incredible, as usual, but he also showed his flexibility and immense

skill as an actor as he adapted to a difficult and demanding role. With an actor of this

caliber in the house, it would, however, be difficult not to produce an excellent play."

From page 37 of the Eton College Chronicle June 1999 issue 

Eddie also played this role 20 years ago at the Edinburgh Fringe. The show was performed

by Doubled Edged Drama, a production company with links to Eton, Eddie’s former school.

Ed Bartlam, director of the Underbelly, said Redmayne’s Fringe performance in Cabaret

still stuck in his head. “It was our second year at Underbelly so we were very much

finding our feet and it was all very atmospheric. Eddie was a slightly creepy Master of

Ceremonies in the show and would come up behind people’s backs in the audience and

get a fantastic reaction...I still remember it as one of the best shows we ever did." (source)

Eddie told a personal story in an interview for The Scotsman in 2012. “Half of my family

live in Edinburgh...My grandmother’s in Liberton and the last proper musical I did

was Cabaret. It was in the Underbelly and it was all dark and dingy. I remember my cousin

brought my grandma to see it and we were all in latex, PVC, and masks and there was

quite a lot of interaction. I was up in my grandma’s face and I just heard her say ‘and when

is Eddie coming on?’ And my cousin was like ‘that’s him! The one leering in our faces!’”

Eddie also sang some songs of Cliff from the musical in a show called Perfectly Marvelous

in NY on October 25, 2012. Read more about it in my old post here

Update: It's official!

The KIT KAT CLUB in London’s West End will open its doors this November with

the musical CABARET starring Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Tony and Olivier

award winner Eddie Redmayne as ‘The Emcee’ and Bafta Nominee and British

Independent Film award winner Jessie Buckley as ‘Sally Bowles’.

Inside the Kit Kat Club, life is beautiful. The famous setting of Kander & Ebb

and Masteroff’s musical is brought to life with a capacity of just 550, to host

a unique production of Cabaret, the likes of which audiences will have never

experienced before.

Director Rebecca Frecknall said today “It’s such a privilege to have the

opportunity to direct Cabaret, a show that has always been dear to my heart.

It’s thrilling to be able to approach this classic and important musical at a time

when its themes and atmosphere feel so contemporary and resonant. I’m in awe

of my incredible creative team who have come together to create a bold new

production as well as a new ‘Kit Kat Club’, a bespoke home where we can

truly embrace and unlock the world of Cabaret for a new audience”. 

Dates, further details, and full casting to be announced soon.

 Source: londontheatrereviews.co.uk

Tickets on sale from June 28

More info here