Kelly Agbowu
Kelly Agbowu is an English singer and musical theatre actress. She is best known for her roles in the musicals Sylvia, Waitress and Mrs Doubtfire.
Early life and education
[edit]Agbowu was born in Croydon in London.[1] She trained at the London School of Musical Theatre, graduating in 2009.[2][3]
Career
[edit]Musical theatre
[edit]During her early career, Agbowu performed in roles at the London School of Musical Theatre Studios, The Young Vic, and the Shaw Theatre in Niagra-on-the-Lake, Canada. [1]
In 2019, Agbowu joined the musical Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre as Nurse Norma.[4] She hosted "Cast Karaoke Nights" at the theatre with fellow cast member Sandra Marvin.[5]
Agbowu played "the General" Mrs. Flora Drummond and Mrs Savoy in the suffragette musical Sylvia, which ran at The Old Vic in 2023.[6][7][8][9]
From 2023 to 2024 Agbowu covered the role of Wanda Sellner in the first UK production of the musical Mrs Doubtfire.[10][11]
In 2025, Agbowu was announced as joining the cast of the Bob Geldof's Live Aid Musical[12] at The Old Vic and as Marsha in the West End transfer "Just For One Day" at the Shaftesbury Theatre.[13][14][15]
Stage credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Much Ado About Nothing[1] | Ursula | London School of Musical Theatre Studios |
| 2009 | Bernada Alba[1] | Paca La Rosetta | London School of Musical Theatre Studios |
| 2010 | The Human Comedy[1] | Ensemble / Townsperson | The Young Vic |
| 2010 | Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queen[1] | Choir/Vocalist | The Shaw Theatre (Canada) |
| 2012 | RENT[1] | Sue / Junie / Carole | Greenwich Theatre |
| 2013 - 2015 | The Lion King | Swing and cover Shenzi | UK and International tour |
| 2015 | Baddies[16] | Ugly Sister | Unicorn Theatre |
| 2016 - 2018 | The Book of Mormon | Swing | The Prince of Wales Theatre |
| 2018 | The Wizard of Oz[1] | The Lion | Birmingham Repertory Theatre |
| 2019 | Waitress[4][5] | Nurse Norma / Cover Becky | Adelphi Theatre |
| 2019 - 2022 | Les Miserables | Madame / 1st Cover
Madame Thenardier |
Sondheim Theatre |
| 2021 | Les Miserables concert | Locket Crone | Sondheim Theatre |
| 2022 | Tammy Faye[17][18] | Almeida Theatre | |
| 2023 | Sylvia[8][9] | Mrs Flora Drummond (the General) / Mrs Savoy | The Old Vic |
| 2023 - 2024 | Mrs Doubtfire[10][11] | Wanda Sellner | Shaftesbury Theatre |
| 2024 | The Mad Hatters Tea Party[19] | Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House | |
| 2025 | Just For One Day | Marsha | Shaftesbury Theatre |
Other credits
[edit]Agbowu has starred in the feature film Dreams of a Life (2011), in an episode of BBC’s Cop School (2010) and in short film The Christening (2010).[1]
Agbowu is also a well known voice over artist and has voiced several campaigns for Nescafe, TFL, Babbel and BT Sports. She was a Talking Head in Nokia's ‘"Talking Heads" (2012).[1]
She was the lead vocalist for the function band Motown Gold[1] and performed at the Croydon Carnival in 2023.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Kelly Agbowu | West End Performers". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Kelly Agbowu: Credits, Bio, News & More". Broadway World. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Kelly Agbowu". Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Full cast announced for the UK premiere of Waitress". LW Theatres. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Sandra Marvin and Kelly Agbowu to Host Next Waitress Cast Album Karaoke". Theatre Weekly. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Cast for "Sylvia" musical at the Old Vic revealed". What's On Stage. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Olivier awards 2023: full list of winners". The Guardian. 2 April 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ a b ""Sylvia" at the Old Vic – first look at the musical as it extends run". 3 February 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ a b Curtis, Nick (15 February 2023). "Sylvia at the Old Vic review - Beverley Knight is magnificent in suffragette musical". The Standard. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Mrs Doubtfire announce new cast". London Theatre Direct. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ a b Swain, Marianka (23 June 2023). "'Mrs Doubtfire' review – this exuberantly inventive musical adaptation is a sizzling-hot ticket". London Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Westhead, Ian (17 January 2025). "Live Aid Musical casting confirmed Live Aid Musical casting confirmed". ATV Today. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Rook, Olivia (16 January 2025). "Casting announced for Live Aid musical 'Just For One Day'". London Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Thomas, Angela. "Just For One Day – London and Toronto cast confirmed". Musical Theatre Review. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Newitt, Emmie. "JUST FOR ONE DAY announces cast for West End transfer". Theatre News and Reviews. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Loxton, Howard (3 November 2015). "Theatre review: Baddies: The Musical at Unicorn Theatre". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Tammy Faye review at the Almeida Theatre, London from James Graham, Elton John and Jake Shears". The Stage. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Tammy Faye – A New Musical". West End Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ Mead, David (8 September 2024). "ZooNation: The Mad Hatter's Tea Party". SeeingDance. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "CROYDON CARNIVAL". This is Croydon. Retrieved 19 April 2025.