Claudia Kariuki

Kariuki studied musical theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.{{Cite web |title=Mountview Alumni News December 2021 |url=https://www.mountview.org.uk/news/mountview-alumni-news-december-2021/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts |language=en-GB}}

Kariuki made their professional debut as Sarah in Ragtime at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2012.{{Cite web |title=Claudia Kariuki {{!}} Our Heritage {{!}} Open Air Theatre |url=https://openairtheatreheritage.com/actors/claudia-kariuki/V-lLBSsAAG9URHOE |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=openairtheatreheritage.com}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Brennan |first=Clare |date=2014-03-09 |title=Hairspray review – 'as light and bouncy as a bubble of gum' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/mar/09/hairspray-curve-leicester-review |access-date=2024-09-11 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}

In October 2020 they joined the concert of Sunset Boulevard at Alexandra Palace.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-18 |title=Sunset Boulevard concerts to be staged at Alexandra Palace Theatre starring Mazz Murray |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/sunset-boulevard-concerts-to-be-staged-at-alexandra-palace-theatre-starring-mazz-murray_52418/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-12 |title=Sunset Boulevard concert at Alexandra Palace Theatre unveils new dates and cast |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/sunset-boulevard-concert-at-alexandra-palace-theatre-unveils-new-dates-and-cast_53558/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-20 |title=Priscilla: Queen of the Desert musical tour full casting revealed |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-musical-tour-full-casting-revealed_53841/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-19 |title=New Six West End cast unveiled |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/new-six-west-end-cast-unveiled_55154/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-30 |title=Six the Musical celebrates 1000 performances in London |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/six-the-musical-celebrates-1000-performances-in-london_56212/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Tossell |first=Shaun |date=2024-02-20 |title=LEMAR, CLAUDIA KARIUKI & MORE ANNOUNCED FOR WEST END REVIVAL OF SISTER ACT – THE MUSICAL |url=https://theatrefan.co.uk/lemar-claudia-kariuki-more-announced-for-west-end-revival-of-sister-act-the-musical/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=Theatre Fan |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=March 20, 2024 |title=Photos: Take a Look at the West End Return of Sister Act, Starring Beverley Knight |url=https://playbill.com/article/photos-take-a-look-at-the-west-end-return-of-sister-act-starring-beverley-knight |website=Playbill.com}}

Kariuki joined the cast of the European premiere of Shucked in the Ensemble, where she also covered the role of Lulu. It played a one-month run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from May 10 until June 14 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=Shucked begins performances in London |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/shucked-begins-performances-in-london_1677162/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |language=en-US}}

Kariuki is non-binary,{{Cite web |title=2023 Winners |url=https://blackbritishtheatreawards.com/winners/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=Black British Theatre Awards |language=en-GB}} and uses they/she pronouns.https://www.instagram.com/p/ClSZRnCDQkO/?img_index=7

• [https://sisteractthemusical.co.uk/ Sister Act the Musical official website]
• [https://openairtheatreheritage.com/actors/claudia-kariuki/V-lLBSsAAG9URHOE Regent's Park Open Air Theatre - Claudia Kariuki]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kariuki, Claudia}}

Category:Living people

Category:Musical theatre actresses

Category:Alumni of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Category:Black British actresses

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:British non-binary actors

Category:British non-binary musicians

Category:English musical theatre actresses