La Cage Aux Folles

The Menier Chocolate Factory production of La Cage aux Folles is now starring Olivier Award winners, Roger Allam (Privates on Parade, Les Miserables, City of Angels) and Philip Quast (Sunday in the Park with George, Evita, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum).

La Cage aux Folles is a timeless and deliciously funny tale of family values, unconditional love, and above all, the need to celebrate who we are.

The idyllic existence of Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, star ofthe La Cage aux Folles club, is threatened when Georges' son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing politician, who wants to close down the local colourful nightlife! With a visit from the prospective in-laws imminent, they all decide to take drastic action to hide their lifestyle...but can they keep it up?

Jerry Herman's (Hello, Dolly!, Mack and Mabel and Mame) fabulous score includes I Am What I Am, The Best of Times and Song on the Sand. From 14 September, John Barrowman wi

The story of cabaret owner Georges and his lover, the club’s leading drag artiste Albin caused as much of a sensation when was revived at the Menier Chocolate Factory last year as it did in 1983 in New York, when it won six Tonys and three Drama Desk Awards. The story of cabaret club owner Albin and his lover, the club’s leading drag artiste Albin, whose idyllic family life is threatened by the arrival of an extreme right wing politician. Not only does the man want to close all of France’s more ‘immoral’ nightspots, but his daughter is engaged to Georges’ son Jean-Michel. With a visit from the prospective in-laws imminent, Georges and his son must take drastic action to conceal their real lives, but it proves difficult to convince Albin to change his ways.

Starring West End stalwarts Roger Allam and Philip Quast, La Cage Aux Folles is proving as big a hit in the West End as it had during its sensational run at the Menier, boasting an incredible cast of beautiful Cagelles, eye-popping choreography and some hilarious and truly moving performances. Winning the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Revival, La Cage Aux Folles includes such musical classics as The Best of Times and the anthem I Am What I Am.

Barrowman to join La Cage

John Barrowman will be taking on the role of Albin in La Cage Aux Folles this September, he announced this week. While no official confirmation has yet been released, Barrowman told the crowd at a concert in Birmaingham this week of his next career move. La Cage Aux Folles will mark twenty years since Barrowman’s first West End appearance in Anything Goes at the Prince Edward Theatre with Elaine Paige in 1989.

West End Theatre Breaks can’t wait for Barrowman to join the show. Widely admired in the UK, he will definitely give the already popular La Cage Aux Folles yet another boost. Producers appear to have a habit of casting outstanding and well established performers in the lead role for limited seasons. Douglas Hodge, who was showered with rave reviews and Olivier award for the role when the current production began at the Menier. He played the role from January to March last year, the joined the show once again when it transferred to the Playhouse in October. In an unusual move, TV presenter Graham Norton took over the role in January and proved so popular that he extended his contract by four weeks. Roger Allam took over last month and will remain in the role until September.

Barrowman, with a plethora of performing arts skills up his sleeve, has everything the role requires. His extensive CV includes dramatic television roles, countless parts in musicals on stage and screen and a witty charisma flaunted in appearances on TV shows such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s BBC talent searches and the Barrowman helmed variety show Tonight’s the Night. If there was an award for casting, John Barrowman as Albin would be a surefire contender.

You can book your break for the fantastic La Cage Aux Folles here.

Posted by Jack on Wednesday 20th May 2009 at 10:27AM

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