Beverley Knight, the pop singer who has forged a strong second career in the West End, is to star as Grizabella in the ongoing London Palladium production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats.
Nicole Scherzinger previously starred in the role when the revival opened last year, and was succeeded by Wicked star Kerry Ellis. Knight’s rumoured involvement was confirmed by Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail, who posted an image of Knight in full feline getup on Twitter:
First picture of @Beverleyknight as #Grizabella @OfficialALW @CatsMusical Palladium from Oct23 for 10 week season pic.twitter.com/mXiiUoCkNB
— Baz Bamigboye (@BazBam) June 4, 2015
Knight was first known for her soul-pop hits like Shoulda Woulda Coulda and Greatest Day, but has recently made a successful transition to the West End stage. She starred in The Bodyguard in 2013, and then took the lead in Memphis, a musical charting the rise of R&B in the deep south of the US. It garnered the most nominations of any one production at the Olivier awards this year, including one for Knight who eventually lost out to Katie Brayben in the best actress in a musical category.
Knight will play Grizabella – whose songs include the classic Memory – from 23 October onwards, for a ten week run.
