Olivier Award nominee Beverly Knight, the British queen of soul turned West End mainstay, will be playing Grizabella in CATS, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, at the Palladium in London. This production is directed by Trevor Nunn, with choreography by Gillian Lynne. Knight has sold millions of albums in the U.K., four gold certified albums, and several top 10 singles. As a songstress, she has been twice nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and has won three MOBO awards, a prestigious achievement at the Urban Music Awards.
Beverly will be the third performer to assume the role in this ongoing show following Nicole Scherzinger and Kerry Ellis. Presently she is starring in Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre until July. Knight also received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre. This revival of CATS has a limited 10 week run at the Palladium following its explosive return last year.
CATS first hit the stage at the New London Theatre in 1981 and set new records with its run of more than 20 years. The story is based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats, and tells the story that takes place over one night of the Jellicle Ball. On this one night of the year the sage leader of the cats, Old Deuteronomy, chooses which cat w
ill enter the Heaviside Layer and have the privilege of being born into a new Jellicle life.
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 makeup and to be playing the role at the London Palladium. Working with Andrew will be a real privilege.”
You can find and purchase tickets for Knight’s performance in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS at The Palladium Theatre ticket site. She takes the stage on October 23, 2015.
