Claudia Kariuki
Claudia Kariuki is a British actress, singer, dancer and songwriter who is best known for playing Jane Seymour in Six in the West End.
Early life and education
[edit]Kariuki studied musical theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.[1]
Stage
[edit]Kariuki made their professional debut as Sarah in Ragtime at the Open Air Theatre in 2012.[2]
In 2014 they performed as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray at Leicester's Curve theatre, reprising the role after having performed it on the touring production of the show in 2013.[3]
In October 2020 they joined the concert of Sunset Boulevard at Alexandra Palace.[4] The show was led by Mazz Murray as Norma Desmond, Kayi Ushe as Joe Gillis, Sharif Afifi as Artie Green and Zizi Strallen as Betty Schaefer.[5]
Kariuki returned in her role of one of the Divas in the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for its UK and Ireland tour in 2021. The three main roles were played by Miles Western (Bernadette), Nick Hayes (Adam/Felicia) and Edwin Ray (Tick/Mitzi) and the show was produced by Jason Donovan.[6]
In October 2021 a new cast for the musical Six was announced, with Kariuki taking the role of Jane Seymour. Amy Di Bartolomeo was Catherine of Aragon, Amanda Lindgren was Anne Boleyn, Dionne Ward-Anderson was Anna of Cleves, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe was Katherine Howard and Meesha Turner was Catherine Parr.[7] The show has won several awards in both the UK and the US and has also started running in Australia and several cruise ship productions. In March 2022 Six celebrated it 1000th performance in the West End.[8]
Kariuki joined the cast of the West End revival of the musical Sister Act as Michelle and also as first cover for the lead character of Deloris Van Cartier. In the cast Beverley Knight in the role of Deloris, Ruth Jones as Mother Superior, Lesley Joseph as Sister Mary Lazarus, Lemar as Curtis, Clive Rowe as Eddie and Lizzie Bea as Sister Mary Robert.[9][10]
Personal Life
[edit]Kariuki is non-binary,[11] and uses they/she pronouns.[12]
Theatre credits
[edit]| Year | Production | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ragtime | Sarah | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre |
| 2012 | Sweet Smell of Success | Ensemble | Arcola Theatre |
| 2013 | Hairspray | Ensemble/ understudy
Motormouth Maybelle/ Dynamite |
UK & Ireland Tour |
| 2013 | Bare: The Musical | Sister Chantelle | Greenwich Theatre |
| 2014 | Hairspray | Motormouth Maybelle | Curve |
| 2014 | Sister Act | Deloris Van Cartier | National Opera House of Ireland |
| 2014 | Porgy & Bess | Ensemble/ understudy Clara | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre |
| 2014-2015 | Ghost the Musical | Oda Mae Brown | English Theatre Frankfurt |
| 2015 | Edges | Woman 2 | London Theatre Workshop |
| 2015 | The Life | Sonja | English Theatre Frankfurt |
| 2016-2018 | Wicked | Ensemble/ Midwife/ understudy
Madame Morrible |
Apollo Victoria Theatre |
| 2018-2019 | School of Rock | Ms. Sheinkopf/understudy
Rosalie Mullins |
Gillian Lynne Theatre |
| 2019-2020 | Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | Diva | UK and Ireland Tour |
| 2021-2023 | Six | Jane Seymour | Vaudeville Theatre |
| 2024 | Bare: The Musical | Sister Chantelle | London Palladium |
| 2024 | Sister Act | Michelle/ 1st cover Deloris Van Cartier | Dominion Theatre |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Six | Black British Theatre Awards | Best Non Binary Performer in a Musical | Won[13] |
| 2024 | Black British Theatre Awards | Best Non Binary Performer | Won[14] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Mountview Alumni News December 2021". Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Claudia Kariuki | Our Heritage | Open Air Theatre". openairtheatreheritage.com. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ Brennan, Clare (2014-03-09). "Hairspray review – 'as light and bouncy as a bubble of gum'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Sunset Boulevard concerts to be staged at Alexandra Palace Theatre starring Mazz Murray". 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Sunset Boulevard concert at Alexandra Palace Theatre unveils new dates and cast". 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert musical tour full casting revealed". 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "New Six West End cast unveiled". 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Six the Musical celebrates 1000 performances in London". 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ Tossell, Shaun (2024-02-20). "LEMAR, CLAUDIA KARIUKI & MORE ANNOUNCED FOR WEST END REVIVAL OF SISTER ACT – THE MUSICAL". Theatre Fan. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (March 20, 2024). "Photos: Take a Look at the West End Return of Sister Act, Starring Beverley Knight". Playbill.com.
- ^ "2023 Winners". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/ClSZRnCDQkO/?img_index=7
- ^ "2023 Winners". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Black British Theatre Awards 2024 – a celebration of ferocious talent and Black excellence". 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2024-11-06.