Louise Redknapp dons top hat and suspenders as Sally Bowles in first look at new production of Cabaret

The former pop star is playing the lead role in a new touring production of the musical 
In character: Louise Redknapp takes on the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret
Jim Marks
Jennifer Ruby4 July 2017
The Weekender

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Louise Redknapp has embraced her inner Sally Bowles for her forthcoming turn in a new touring production of Cabaret, posing in the character’s iconic bowler hat and suspenders.

The first promo pictures for Rufus Norris’ show see Redknapp sitting astride a chair wearing a short black wig as she takes on the character immortalised by Liza Minnelli in the 1972 film.

Will Young is also seen in character as the Emcee, having won an Olivier Award for the role back in 2012.

Redknapp, 42, recently admitted that taking on the much-loved role was one of the “scariest things” she’s ever done.

Iconic: Louise will play the cabaret performer in the new touring production
Jim Marks

“It was one of the scariest things I’ve done, and the most intimidating,” she told the Telegraph.

“I had three long auditions to get the part. One was five hours of singing and doing the script.

'Intimidating': Louise says that this is the scariest thing she's done
Jim Marks

“They wanted to be certain that this was the right role for me to do, so I was put through my paces and I’m grateful for that.”

Cabaret will open at the New Wimbledon Theatre on September 21 and will play at theatres in Blackpool, Cardiff, Brighton, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Salford, Bromley and Edinburgh.

Award-winning: Will Youns reprises the role he won an Olivier for
Jim Marks

The musical is set in Berlin in 1932 and follows the romance between a young American writer and a Cabaret performer.

The new production is being choreographed by Javier De Frutos and features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Redknapp, who rose to fame in 1990s girl group Eternal, made it to the Strictly Come Dancing final in 2016, the same year that Young competed.

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