La Cage aux Folles

This show has now closed, click here for a listing of current and future London shows

La Cage aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre in London previewed 20 October 2008, opened 30 October 2008, closed 2 January 2010.

"A glorious night of showbiz razzle-dazzle" The Daily Telegraph

Bon soir! Welcome to the pride of St Tropez, the envy of the cabaret world, the jewel of the Riviera.... La Cage aux Folles.

"Terry Johnson's terriffic revival" The Guardian

A major revival of the classic Jerry Herman musical La Cage aux Folles in London. Georges and Albin - proprietors of the legendary cabaret club La Cage aux Folles - have lived together happily for years, with Albin performing nightly as Zaza, the star drag act. Their glamorous existence is threatened when Georges' son, Jean-Michel who was brought up by them, announces his impending marriage to Anne - who happens to be the daughter of a local moral crusader and politician who wants to close down their club... Meeting the prospective in-laws has never promised to be so troublesome! La Cage aux Folles explores what it is to be a family, to love without condition and above all, to be proud of what we are.

Winner - Best Musical - Critics Circle Awards 2009
Winner - Best Musical Revival - Olivier Awards 2009

The cast for La Cage aux Folles in London from 14 September 2009 at 28 November 2009 features John Barrowman as 'Albin' and Simon Burke as 'Georges'. The cast from 30 November 2009 features Douglas Hodge as 'Albin' and Denis Lawson as 'Georges'. All casting subject to change.

"This fantastic revival fully restores a great show as a bitter-sweet social classic" The Independent

La Cage aux Folles is based on the French play by Jean Poiret, the show boasts a fantastic score by composer / lyricist Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein. This newly conceived production of La Cage aux Folles in London is directed by Terry Johnson.

"Suddenly the West End sparkles. Terry Johnson's production transfers triumphantly. Aided by Lynne Page's dazzling choreography, he makes a chirpy comedy into a beautiful bird of paradise. Sew on a sequin, slip into some heels and go" The Times

This production was originally seen at the Menier Chocolate Factory at the end of last year. All tickets for the run sold-out in advance of opening night!

"La Cage aux Folles proves a constant pleasure" The Daily Telegraph

"Delayed by plague upon plague of winter lurgies, the Menier Chocolate Factorys Christmas show, a revival of the Eighties hit La Cage Aux Folles, proves well worth the wait and more. This deliciously ticklish French farce by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein is a sappy, happy portrait of marriage. With a twist... The star is Douglas Hodge's Albin. By day, he's a housewife to Georges; by night, he pours his barrel chest into satin and sequins and purrs his girlie heart out as ZaZa, queen of La Cage Aux Folles. Its a rich role that requires Hodge (who is 100 per cent he-man) to play an irresistible sex siren with utter conviction, then try (disastrously) to be butch, and finally, but with similar passion, pretend to be the mother of Georges son. He succeeds in being variously hilarious, grotesque and genuinely touching." The Mail on Sunday

"A highly recommended hoot!" The Sunday Express

"Albin, a drag artiste at the St Tropez nightclub run by Georges, his lover of 20 years. The two have raised a son, the result of Georges' one night of curiosity, who wants to marry the daughter of a right-wing politician. Albin is asked to disappear while the politician visits - but will he? This is not a plot but a situation, and an idiotic one, not greatly improved by Harvey Fierstein's mediocre, dated book and Jerry Herman's bouncy-schmaltzy songs. Yet all objections vanish in the face of Terry Johnson's effervescent production... he has assembled a crack cast... Though he overdoes the hysteria at first, Douglas Hodge becomes a genuinely touching Albin, making that pub-singalong standard "The Best of Times" an affecting plea for tenderness." The Independent on Sunday

"Pink ruched curtains; a line of sashaying silhouettes; moues and pouts and flounces. La Cage Aux Folles is frou-frou with a good heart. Terry Johnson's new production doesn't make Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's musical look more than a forward-looking period piece, but that doesn't much matter... The Menier was right twice to postpone the opening, until Douglas Hodge had recovered from a bronchial infection and the chorus had got over the vomiting virus. Together they light up the evening. Hodge is magnetic as the sometimes crumpled, sometimes magnificent trannie. He's glam in a beaded frock, sad in a suit." The Observer

For this transfer to the Playhouse Theatre in London's West End Douglas Hodge will be reprising the role of 'Albin', for which he won unanimous critical acclaim, and is joined by Olivier award winner Denis Lawson in the role of 'Georges'.

The original production of La Cage aux Folles opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway on 21 August 1983 where it became the biggest new American musical of the decade. It ran for 1,761 performances and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book of a Musical. The show's song "I Am What I Am" became an instant hit in the pop charts and was recorded by a variety of artists, including Gloria Gaynor and Shirley Bassey.

La Cage aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre in London previewed 20 October 2008, opened 30 October 2008.