Regulars of the West End stage, including Sharon D Clarke, Hadley Fraser and Anne Reid, will take their talents to Victoria as part of the St James Studios first season of comedy, jazz and cabaret.
The studio, part of the new St James theatre complex that will launch next month on the site of the former Westminster theatre, is the theatre’s more intimate space and will host comedy on a Thursday, jazz on a Friday and cabaret on a Saturday.
Comic musical duo Frisky and Mannish and tuneful improviser Abandoman are among the comedians set to make St James audiences laugh, while jazz offerings come from musicians including double bassist Peter Ind, saxophonist Tony Kofi and singer Carol Grimes.
Ghost The Musical star Clarke, former Les Misérables performer Fraser and Upstairs Downstairs’ Reid are joined in the cabaret season by Clare Burt (London Road), singer songwriter Matthew Strachan and Tim Flavin in the cabaret season.
As the festive season gets into full tinsel-covered swing, the bijou theatre will be turned over to Clive Francis and his one-man production of A Christmas Carol.
Speaking about the season, James Albrecht, Associate Artistic Director of the St James theatre said: “Our ambition is to make the St. James Studio a major venue for London and the local area in and around Victoria. We aim to present the best in both established and up and coming comedy on Thursdays, to emerge as London’s newest and most exciting Jazz venue on Fridays and bring you acclaimed cabaret on Saturdays.”
The Studio season plays alongside a season of productions in the main house, featuring squaddie drama Bully Boy, musical romance Daddy Long Legs, fairytale Cinderella and Timberlake Wertenbaker’s tale of convicts Our Country’s Good.