Self Esteem to Lead Teeth ‘N’ Smiles in West End Revival

Singer-songwriter Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known by her stage name Self Esteem, is set to make her leading role debut in the West End next year. Taylor will star in the 50th anniversary revival of David Hare’s Teeth ‘N’ Smiles, opening at the Duke of York’s Theatre in March 2026.

Taylor is no stranger to the stage. Earlier this year, she launched her album A Complicated Woman with a theatrical run at the Duke of York’s. She also took on the iconic role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret from autumn 2024 to spring 2025, appearing opposite Jake Shears as the Emcee. While her stint in Cabaret showcased her versatility, the spotlight was shared, and reviews of her performance were limited due to her takeover casting.

Teeth ‘N’ Smiles, however, marks a major step forward. Taylor will play Maggie, the embittered frontwoman of a failing rock band navigating the end of the 1960s. It’s a role that seems tailor-made for her, blending her own rock-star persona with Hare’s sharp portrait of disillusionment. The production will also feature songs by Nick and Tony Bicât, updated and expanded with new contributions from Taylor herself.

Directed by Daniel Raggett, whose acclaimed staging of Accidental Death of an Anarchist lit up the West End, the production promises to bring fresh energy to Hare’s 1975 classic, which has not been revived in decades.

The limited 12-week season will run from March to June 2026, with exact dates to be confirmed.

For fans of Self Esteem, this is a chance to see the artist step into her boldest theatrical challenge yet. For theatre audiences, it marks the return of a rarely staged British play that still crackles with relevance fifty years after its premiere.