Cabaret London: What you need to know about the award-winning musical and how to find tickets

John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff’s enduring masterpiece of a musical, based on Christopher Isherwood’s semi-autobiographical novel, is set in Weimar Berlin during the rise of the Nazi Party.

Newcomer Clifford Bradshaw, an aspiring novelist from America, is initially dazzled by the city’s artistic and sexual freedom. At a nightclub called the Kit Kat Club, we meet the mysterious Emcee and English performer Sally Bowles. We also see a romance developing between boarding house owner Fraulein Schneider and Jewish shopkeeper Herr Schultz.

However, the mood of the city gradually changes as the Nazis tighten their grip. By living in the club’s fantasy world, we’ve risked missing the bigger picture. This award-winning production takes that one step further by turning the whole theatre into an immersive Kit Kat Club: an extraordinary experience.

How to buy tickets for Cabaret

You can find seats for the London production of Cabaret on Telegraph Tickets. Since the show is intimately staged in the round, the views are excellent throughout, but it’s a particular thrill sitting at the cabaret tables close to the stage. Check Telegraph Tickets for the latest prices. 

The cast

Cabaret opened with the starry Hollywood duo of Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley in the lead roles, but every cast change since has been just as impressive, showcasing talent from across the entertainment industry.

Currently you can see model and actress Cara Delevigne playing Sally Bowles, and Luke Treadaway (an Olivier Award-winner for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) as the Emcee. Michael Ahomka-Lindsay (Newsies) is Cliff, Beverley Klein (Fiddler on the Roof) is Fraulein Schneider, and Teddy Kempner (Girl from the North Country) is Herr Schultz.

Make sure you get there early as there’s a whole pre-show event too. Once you enter the Kit Kat Club, you’ll find performers filling the bars and corridors. It’s just one incredible aspect of this landmark production by Rebecca Frecknall, and part of the reason why this Cabaret won seven Olivier Awards, including Best Director and Best Musical Revival.

The details

Where is Cabaret playing?

Cabaret runs at the Playhouse Theatre (transformed into the Kit Kat Club), which is on Northumberland Avenue – close to Embankment, Charing Cross, and more West End theatres on the Strand.

What is the running time of Cabaret?

Cabaret is 2hr 45, including an interval.

How long is Cabaret running for?

Cabaret is currently booking to February 1, 2025. 

What is the minimum age for Cabaret?

The age recommendation for Cabaret is 12 plus. The show contains mature themes and suggestive performances, so definitely isn’t suitable for children.

Does Cabaret have accessible tickets?

Yes, the show runs some captioned, BSL-signed, relaxed and audio-described performances. Upcoming dates can be found on the theatre website.

The review

“This production is, and will remain, an absolute knockout. With its combination of all-encompassing decadent beauty and thunderous moral force, there’s simply nothing else in town quite like it.” Read the full Telegraph review.

Watch the trailer