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Rebecca Lucy ‘Self Esteem’ Taylor is no stranger to the West End. She launched her new album A Complicated Woman with a highly theatrical run of shows at the Duke of York’s Theatre earlier this year. And before that she properly trod the boards with a starring part in the musical Cabaret, playing the iconic role of Sally Bowles from autumn 2024 to spring 2024.
While Cabaret was a big deal, she was also somewhat shielded from the spotlight: she was only taking over the part of Sally and there were no reviews, while the focus wasn’t solely on her as she was co-lead with Jake Shears, who played the Emcee.
Next year, however, sees the former Slow Club singer take on what might be the biggest challenge of her career. She’s to return to the Duke of York’s play the lead in a major West End play, the fiftieth anniversary revival of the great British dramatist David Hare's early work Teeth ‘N’ Smiles, which debuted at the Royal Court way back in 1975.
Will she be up to it? It has to be said that the play is a pretty damn good fit: she’ll play Maggie, the embittered frontwoman of a failing rock band, bitter, broken and obstinate as the 60s that she once flourished in now grind to a bitter end. There are even songs by Nick and Tony Bicât, which have been updated and added to by Taylor herself.
Inevitably this is going to appeal to her fanbase: but the real question is whether she can wow the curious West End theatregoer who may be intrigued by the first revival of his play in decades.
It will be directed by Daniel Raggett, best known for his frenzied West End production of Accidental Death of an Anarchist.
Teeth ‘N’ Smiles is at the Duke of York’s Theatre from Match to June 2026 for 12 weeks, exact dates TBC. Sign up here for updates.
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Date and ticket details have been confirmed for Cynthia Erivo’s one-woman West End Dracula.
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