It’s been announced that Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley are to star in a new production of Kander and Ebb’s iconic musical Cabaret, opening in the West End this autumn.

The new production, directed by Olivier Award-nominee Rebecca Frecknall (Summer and Smoke), is to open in November at the Kit Kat Club – named after the Berlin based cabaret club from the musical. The whereabouts of the Kit Kat Club is still to be announced, but it’s been revealed that the venue will have an intimate capacity of 550 seats.

Academy Award-winner Eddie Redmayne returns to the London stage for the first time in an almost a decade to play the role of Emcee. Redmayne previously played the role in a student production at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001. Redmayne is best known to audiences for his roles on screen in The Theory of Everything and Les Misérables, and for leading roles on stage in Red and Richard II.

Jessie Buckley stars opposite Redmayne in the iconic role of Sally Bowles. Buckley first rose to prominence as a contestant of the musical theatre reality show I’d Do Anything, and has since had a successful career on screen, with acclaimed roles in Wild Rose, War and Peace and Chernobyl. She recently played Juliet opposite Josh O’Connor’s Romeo in a filmed version of Shakespeare’s play from the National Theatre.

The new production of Cabaret features design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Julia Cheng, musical supervision and direction by Jennifer Whyte, lighting design by Isabella Byrd and sound design by Nick Lidster. The casting director is Stuart Burt and the associate director is Jordan Fein.

Director Rebecca Frecknall said: “It’s such a privilege to have the opportunity to direct Cabaret, a show that has always been dear to my heart,” said Frecknall. “It’s thrilling to be able to approach this classic and important musical at a time when its themes and atmosphere feel so contemporary and resonant.”

“I’m in awe of my incredible creative team who have come together to create a bold new production as well as a new Kit Kat Club, a bespoke home where we can truly embrace and unlock the world of Cabaret for a new audience.”

Set in the seedy nightclubs of 1930s Berlin during the ascension of the Nazis, Cabaret focuses on American writer Cliff Bradshaw, and his relations with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. Overseeing the evening is the enigmatic and mysterious Emcee.

First performed on Broadway in 1967, the musical features book by John Van Druten and an iconic musical score by legendary composers John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago), with famous songs like ‘Mein Herr’, ‘Wilkommen’ and the iconic ‘Cabaret.’ A popular film adaptation of the musical directed by Bob Fosse released in 1972, starring Liza Minelli as Sally Bowles.

Cabaret opens at the Kit Kat Club this November, with exact dates to be confirmed. You can sign up to access priority tickets here.