The acclaimed cabaret musical Grit Glitter and Gaslight: The Sarah McGuinness Story will return to the stage next month following its popular 2024 run at the Etcetera Theatre.
The one‑woman show will open at Circle and Star Theatre, Hampstead, on Tuesday 3 March for a three‑week engagement.
Emmy‑nominated performer Sarah McGuinness brings her life story to the stage, blending cabaret, storytelling and an epic soundtrack to explore her journey from her childhood in Derry to a career intertwined with global entertainment icons.
The production premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before transferring to London, where critics praised McGuinness’s charisma and storytelling.
London Pub Theatres described her as “A born show‑woman, with a beautiful voice and wicked personality – a great tonic for anyone’s night out”.
Irish Central called the show “Laugh‑out‑loud funny and wonderfully nostalgic… this show is the tonic you never knew you needed”.
The List UK hailed it as a “Must‑see cabaret”.
The piece sees McGuinness reflect on her creative life, professional collaborations and the personal histories that shaped her, combining humour, trauma and nostalgia in equal measure.
Set to a soundtrack featuring music by David Bowie, Kate Bush, Kurt Weill, Sondheim and Kander and Ebb alongside McGuinness’s own original work, the show promises a powerful account of a life lived centre stage.
Sarah McGuinness said: “After my mother’s recent passing, an unexpected remark from my uncle disrupted everything I thought I knew about my past. It triggered doubt, unease, and questions I could no longer ignore – questions that led me back through memory, silence, and the stories I had been told to survive.
I have spent my career helping others find their voices and tell their stories, yet I had never told my own.
For the first time, I found the courage to do so – live, in front of an audience!”
Tickets are on sale now via https://buytickets.at/circleandstar/2034376.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
