Julian Clary joins Cabaret

Julian Clary will take on the much coveted role of ‘Emcee’ from 02 October 2007, in Rufus Norris’s Olivier Award winning production of Cabaret, now in its second year in the West End.

Entertainment icon Julian Clary has been one of British Television’s favourite personalities for over two decades. He first gained recognition through his hilarious and sometimes notorious stand-up routines and quickly became a household name in British comedy. And despite often performing risqué material, Julian’s appeal quickly spread to a wider audience:

His glittering career really took off in 1988 when he started to appear on a huge range of mainstream television programmes. After appearing on Channel Four's Friday Night Live in the late eighties, (performing as 'The Joan Collins Fan Club') he co-wrote and starred in his own top comedy series - Terry and Julian, Sticky Moments, & Sticky Moments on Tour - plus two series and a Christmas special of All Rise for Julian Clary, to name but a few. He had his own TV Specials - Brace Yourself Sydney, filmed in Australia, Desperately Seeking Roger, filmed in New York, In the presence of Julian Clary for ITV1 and he has been the subject of a Channel Four documentary paying tribute to comedy performers who started their careers with the channel. He has hosted, presented, and co-presented various music, quiz and game shows and has starred in the last four ITV Christmas pantomimes - Jack & the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Aladdin, & Dick Whittington. Julian also starred in a Carry On film - Carry on Columbus and features in Nick Moran's comedy movie entitled Baby Juice Express. He was last seen in the West End when he starred in Taboo as Leigh Bowery in 2002.

Kander and Ebb’s landmark musical turns Weimar Berlin of 1931 into a dark and sexually charged haven of decadence, its extraordinary and morally ambiguous inhabitants determined to keep up appearances as the real world - outside the comfortable sanctuary of the cabaret - prepares for the nightmarish chaos of war.

Other new casting news

Amy Nuttall plays Sally Bowles

Angela Richards as Fraulein Schneider

Barry James as Herr Schultz.

Amy Nuttall, known to millions as ‘Chloe Atkinson’ from Emmerdale in which she appeared from 2000 to 2005, transfers directly from a successful West End revival of Boeing Boeing. Amy has been involved in the world of musical theatre from the age of 16 when she was chosen to understudy Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. Since then she has starred in the UK Tour of My Fair Lady and the recent West End production of Guys and Dolls. Alongside her television career Amy recorded a classical solo album, Best Days, which was nominated for Album of the year at the Classical Brits 2006.

Angela Richards, known to television viewers from Across The Lake staring opposite Anthony Hopkins and for her leading role in the 1970s BBC drama Secret Army, is a leading light of West End musical theatre: Olivier Award nominated for Side by Side with Sondheim, other star performances included taking over as Grizabella from Elaine Page in Cats and playing the tragic Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers.

Barry James is best known to musical theatre audiences for his definitive performances in Les Miserables, Chicago and Beauty and Beast, both in the West End and around the country. He was most recently in the Menier Chocolate Factory’ critically acclaimed production of The Little Shop of Horrors.