Andrew Lloyd Webber ‘devastated’ by decision to halt performances of Cinderella until February

Picture: Tristram Kenton

Andrew Lloyd Webber has expressed his ‘devastation’ after it was announced that the curtain will remain down on his latest hit Cinderella until 9 February 2022.

In a statement posted on his Twitter feed, the multi-award-winning composer said: “I am absolutely devastated that Cinderella has to temporarily close. My life has been devoted to musical theatre. Once again, this wretched virus has put paid to the joy of entertaining audiences, something that I hold so dear.

“Sadly this is the right thing to do, not just for the safety of our cast, musicians and backstage crew, but for the quality of the show we give our audiences who travel long distances and make significant investments to come and see us.

“Rest assured, Cinderella will reopen as soon as this wave is licked and we know we can give our audiences the fantastic time they deserve.”

Lloyd Webber’s comments followed the posting of a company statement announcing performances at the Gillian Lynne Theatre would be halted until February following weeks of disruption and cancelled performances due to Covid.

With London currently regarded as the most affected by the apparently highly transmissible Omicron variant, the production announced the decision to suspend performances “to avoid more disruption and to protect the quality of the show we give our audiences”. The statement went on to offer some hope that Cinderella could return earlier than currently planned “if the circumstances improve”.

Based on an original idea by Killing Eve screenwriter and actress Emerald Fennell the new version of the classic fairy tale features a new score by Lloyd Webber and lyrics by multi-award-winning writer David Zippel (City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl).

Reuniting Lloyd Webber with director Laurence Connor and choreographer JoAnn Hunter, the musical stars Carrie Hope Fletcher (Les Misérables, Heathers, The Addams Family) in the title role and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (A Chorus Line, In The Heights) as the Stepmother.

 Angela Thomas