Roger Allam and Philip Quast to Join Cast of London's La Cage Revival

By Mark Shenton
11 Mar 2009

Roger Allam
Roger Allam
Photo by Sarah Dunn

Roger Allam and Philip Quast will succeed Graham Norton and Steven Pacey as Albin and Georges, respectively, in the West End production of La Cage aux Folles, currently running at the Playhouse Theatre.

Norton and Pacey, originally signed through April 25, have extended their run by an extra week to May 2, and will be replaced by Allam and Quast May 4, with a press night announced for May 11. Allam and Quast are contracted to appear in the show to Aug. 26. The show has also extended its booking period to Jan. 9, 2010.

Olivier winners Allam and Quast have also both previously played the role of Javert in Les Miserables: Allam in the original RSC production at the Barbican in 1985, Quast in his native Australia in 1987 and subsequently in the West End and then again in the 10th anniversary performance of the show at the Royal Albert Hall in 1995.

Allam has appeared regularly at the National Theatre, most recently in 2008 in Michael Frayn's Afterlife and before that in the premiere of Michael Frayn's Democracy, as well as in productions of The Cherry Orchard, Money, Albert Speer and Summerfolk. He is an associate artist of the RSC, where his classical roles include Mercutio, Oberon/Theseus, Brutus, Toby Belch and Macbeth. He won the Olivier Award twice, for Best Actor for his performances in the Donmar Warehouse production of Privates on Parade in 2002, and for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his appearance in the National Theatre's production of Money in 2000.

Quast – who previously played the role of Georges when this production first opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory in November 2007 – returns to the role. He has won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical three times, for Sunday in the Park with George (National Theatre, 1991), The Fix (Donmar Warehouse, 1998) and South Pacific (National Theatre, 2002). Other recent theatre credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and David Hare's Stuff Happens (National Theatre, 2004), Juan Peron in Evita (West End, 2006), and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd (Royal Festival Hall, 2007).

The production is directed by Terry Johnson, with choreography by Lynne Page, set design by Tim Shortall, costumes by Matthew Wright and lighting by Nick Richings.

To book tickets contact the box office at 0870 060 6631 or visit www.lacagelondon.com.