Cats - Beverley Knight to play Grizabella
Casting news
BEVERLEY Knight will play Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical Cats, which returns to the London Palladium in the autumn, playing a ten week season from October 23, 2015 to January 2, 2016.
Speaking about the role, Beverley Knight said: “To be asked to join the company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s historic show was so exciting and totally unexpected as, vocally, I am so different to the many incredible women who have sung the classic Memory over the years.
“To follow in their footsteps is something to truly relish! I am really looking forward to transforming into Grizabella with her fabulous costume and amazing make up and to be playing the role at the London Palladium. Working with Andrew will be a real privilege.”
Beverley Knight is a singer, songwriter and record producer who has been one of the UK’s most consistent artists since the release of her debut album in 1995. Having sold over a million albums in the UK, scoring several top 10’s and four gold certified albums as well as the platinum selling Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight, her latest critically acclaimed album Soul UK, was a top 15 charting album upon its release in July 2011. She is currently working on her eighth studio album.
To date, she has won three MOBO Awards, an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Urban Music Awards, been three times nominated for Best Female at the Brit Awards and twice nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. And in 2007, she was awarded an MBE for her services to music and charity.
Knight has presented four series of Radio 2 show Beverley’s Gospel Nights and appeared in two series of the hit BBC1 show Just The Two Of Us as well as appearing on stage with the likes of Prince, Stevie Wonder and Take That. And she wowed a viewing audience of one billion with a rendition of the song I Am What I Am at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Knight recently played the leading role of Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard at the Adelphi followed by Felicia in Memphis The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Cats returned to the West End in December last year reuniting the original creative team – Director Trevor Nunn, Associate Director and Choreographer Gillian Lynne, Designer John Napier and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Nicole Scherzinger and then Kerry Ellis played the role of Grizabella in this sell-out Palladium run. In July this year, Jane McDonald will play Grizabella in an eight week season at Blackpool Opera House.
Tickets are from £20 with top price seats at £59.50 and children’s tickets at half price for Monday to Thursday performances.
Read more about Cats.