NEW CAST ANNOUNCED FOR
SABRAGE AT LAFAYETTE LONDON
Menier Chocolate Factory and Strut & Fret today announce the new cast for the world première production of Sabrage, a bold theatrical experience blending circus and cabaret at Lafayette London. Returning to the cast are Neven Connolly, Skye Ladell, Christian Nimri, and Emma Phillips, they are joined by Alex Makardish, Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Kylie Rose Webb and Julia Stewart.
Directed by Strut & Fret’s Scott Maidment, the new cast is currently in preview performances, with an opening night set for 6 May, and is booking until 6 September 2026.
Sabrage, inspired by the ceremonial act of opening a champagne bottle with a sabre, is an extravagant evening inviting audiences to delve into the world of allure and seduction within an intimate venue. Blending storytelling with spectacle, the cast take on multiple roles, weaving an ever-intensifying narrative.
Hosted at Lafayette – a venue that has made its name for catching the fastest rising musical acts – ranging from the diverse likes of Charli XCX, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Maggie Rogers, Dave, Olivia Dean, Beck, Becky Hill, Anne-Marie and The Pretenders – the production offers audiences a new live entertainment experience like no other.
Menier Chocolate Factory and Strut & Fret present
SABRAGE
Until 6 September 2026
Cast: Neven Connolly, Skye Ladell, Alex Makardish, Christian Nimri, Emma Phillips, Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Kylie Rose Webb, Julia Stewart
Director: Scott Maidment; Set and Lighting Design: Philip Gladwell; Costume Design: James Browne; Original Choreography: Kevin Maher; Additional Choreography: Neven Connolly; Sound Design:
Rob Donnelly-Jackson; Associate Director: Spencer Novich
Step into the unforgettable world of Sabrage!
Presented by Strut & Fret and Menier Chocolate Factory,Sabrage is taking London by storm at the must-visit Lafayette venue in King’s Cross.
Sabrageisn’t just a show, it’s very much an experience. Arrive early to unwind in the Louisiana-inspired opulence of Lafayette, where hand-crafted cocktails and mouth-watering bar bites are served with a side of Southern hospitality. Then prepare for an unforgettable and intoxicating evening of edge-of-your-seat entertainment, featuring acrobatic spectacle, titillating humour, vintage glamour – and more than a few surprises.
It’s not your average cabaret, it’s not your average comedy show and it’s not your average circus show, but a heady mix of all the above designed to have you screaming with laughter. It’s hard to stand out in the West End, but Sabrage definitely achieves it.’ – The Sun
Book now for a night to remember.
Neven Connolly is a physical actor, dancer, clown, and host hailing from Sydney, Australia. He renews his collaboration with Strut & Fret following his performance in Blanc de Blanc Uncorked (P&O Cruises).His further live performance credits include Cirque du Soleil (MSC Cruises), The Empire Strips Back, Lassu: Cosmic Cabaret, Karera: Voyage of Wonder, Dirty Dancing, and a host of independent dance and theatre productions. His film credits include Thor: Love and Thunder, The Fall Guy, We Bury The Dead and Ugly Carter.
Skye Ladell is a highly accomplished actress and dancer from Durban, South Africa. She renews her collaboration with Strut & Fret following her performance in Blanc de Blanc: Uncorked in Australia. Ladell trained in Los Angeles with coaches Anthony Meindl, Ivana Chubbuck and Margie Haber. In her career she has danced for renowned artists including Dua Lipa, Sam Smith and Guy Sebastian.
Alex Makardish, known for his collaborative presence in contemporary cabaret, makes his UK debut as the French Host of Sabrage. He continues his collaboration with Strut & Fret following his appearance as host of Blanc de Blanc Uncorked in Australia; and as host and showrunner of Southern California’s Teatro Martini. His career spans directing and producing at The Broad Stage, performing across the Shakespeare Festival circuit, and screen work in Los Angeles. He trained at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts where he further developed his clowning practice at Italy’s Accademia Dell’arte.
Australian native Christian Nimri is a unique triple threat – aerialist, acrobat …and roller skater. Also accomplished at clowning, he’s toured across Australia and the UK, as well as being part of three resident shows at The Pink Flamingo, Las Vegas.
Emma Phillips, another frequent collaborator with Strut & Fret, is a world-renowned circus artist. Honing her skills in two of the toughest acrobatic schools in China, Phillips became the only artist in the world to combine the delicate manipulation of Chinese parasols with the power juggling of a solid wooden table with her feet. She has performed in prestigious venues internationally, most notably with Circus Theatre Roncalli (New York) Apollo Varieté, Palazzo, The Box, Big Apple Circus.
Jarnéia Richard-Noel is an Olivier nominated actress from Northampton. Her theatre credits include Six The Musical (Vaudeville Theatre and UK tour – Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), Swing Dynamites, Hairspray, Play On!, Madagascar the Musical (UK tours), and Dick Whittington and His Cat (Norwich Theatre Royal). She also appeared in the film Six The Musical Live and is an original member of the girl group S.V.N.
Kylie Rose Webb is a California-born circus artist whose work blends bottle walking, aerial hoop and cyr wheel into finely crafted, story-led performances. Kylie has performed with Company XIV, The Box, Slipper Room, and House of Yes (all New York City). With a focus on detail and atmosphere, her acts prioritise nuance and storytelling as much as technical skill.
Julia Stewart is a circus artist who has performed around the world with Palazzo, Krystallpalast, The 7 Fingers, Virgin Voyages, and Circus Monti. Whether soaring high in the air or flipping and dancing in ensemble work, Julia brings authenticity and artistry that is bold, uplifting, and unforgettable for audiences. She trained at The National Circus School of Montreal, specialising in aerial hoop and loves to blend her dance background with acrobatics.
Scott Maidment directs. His collaborations include an artistic partnership with Madonna, following his artistic direction of the Rebel Heart World Tour in 2015. Maidment’s work combines unconventional entertainment, high-flying spectacle, nu-circus, extreme theatre and dynamic music experiences. As Creative Director of Strut & Fret, his directorial credits include LIMBO, Cantina, Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Blanc Encore, Love Lust Lost, When Night Comes, The Party, Showtime at the Pink Flamingo, Boom Boom in the House of Casa Blah Blah, Fun House, The Secret Death of Salvador Dali, Tom Tom Crew, Dream Menagerie, Feasting on Flesh, Cantina and The Happy Sideshow. He is one of the creative forces behind The Garden of Unearthly Delights, an annual spectacle at the Adelaide Fringe that this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. In 2024 Creative Director Scott Maidment was invited to direct the annual Ohlala circus show Milk & Chocolate in Zurich resulting in an extended sold-out season.
LISTINGS
SABRAGE
Lafayette
11 Goods Way, London, N1C 4DP
www.sabrageshow.co.uk
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@sabrageshowldn
TICKETS
Tickets from £25
Age rating 16+