Farnworth Little Theatre to stage the play that inspired the musical ‘Cabaret’

I am a Camera by John Van Druten is the play that inspired the Broadway hit musical Cabaret. 

The play, which is based on the 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood, will be performed Farnworth Little Theatre this March.

Set in the waning days of the Weimar republic, this uproarious and poignant drama takes place in the dark glamour of Berlin nightclubs and follows the story of a young flapper named Sally Bowles.

Photography by Ray Jefferson.

At the heart of the play is the relationship between Christopher, a young writer, and Sally Bowles, a self-destructive nightclub singer. Through Christopher’s eyes—his “camera,” as he calls himself—we witness the highs and lows of Sally’s world and the lives of those around them.

The seven-strong cast who will perform the play is led by director Jason Crompton who has previously directed A Comedy of Tenors, Jumpers for Goalposts and Pressure at Farnworth Little Theatre.

Jason Crompton commented: “Our approach to this production has been to balance the play’s wit and charm with the underlying sense of unease that shadows the characters’ lives. Van Druten’s sharp dialogue and intimate storytelling offer us a glimpse into a world on the brink of collapse, where artists,dreamers, and misfits attempt to hold onto their freedom and identity. 

The play serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of joy and the dangers of political complacency.”

The cast of I am a Camera in rehearsals at Farnworth Little Theatre. Rehearsal photography by Adrian Mottram.

The cast includes Nick Eccles as Clive, Esme Mather as Sally Bowles, Sharon Shaw as Fraulein Schneider, Jack Maidment as Fritz Wendel, Catherine Cropper as Natalia Landauer, Joe Beck as Clive Mortimer and Jennifer Lee as Mrs Watson-Courtneidge.

I am a Camera runs at Farnworth Little Theatre from Saturday 15th March 2025 - Saturday 22nd March 2025. Tickets are £10 full price / £8 concessions. Book online at www.farnworthlittletheatre.co.uk.