Dancer Sleep praises new theatre

Tuesday 3rd November 2009, 9:40AM GMT.

Wayne Sleep in Cabaret

Dancer Wayne Sleep arrived in Shrewsbury last night and immediately heaped praise on the Theatre Severn.

Sleep, who danced with Diana, Princess of Wales, at a Royal Gala Performance in 1985, is starring in a shockingly powerful version of the hit musical Cabaret, at Theatre Severn until Saturday.

“This is a wonderful theatre and you should be very proud of it,” he said after the opening show.

“We are really going to be able to relax and enjoy our time here. The backstage facilities are top class which really makes a difference to the team.”

“I am staying in a lovely old world hotel and there seems to be some fabulous old buildings here.”

Sleep revealed that Bill Kenwright’s Cabaret had toured for far longer than expected.

“I joined for a three month tour – that was a year and three months ago,” he said.

“I played the same role, Emcee, 25 years ago but that was a completely different version and it is wonderful to have to chance to play the same role, with the same lines, but make it so different, so much more sinister and with a totally different ending.

Cabaret tells of the dacadent Berlin of the 1930s, with Emcee the bisexual owner of the Kit Kat club.

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