Picture: Paul Stuart
Just a week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown Andrew Lloyd Webber has confirmed rehearsals have begun for the delayed world premiere of his eagerly-anticipated show Cinderella.
Releasing footage of his leading lady Carrie Hope Fletcher and members of the production team inside the newly-refurbished London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre on his Twitter account, Lloyd Webber said: “I am buoyed by the Government’s roadmap announcement last week and am absolutely prepared to do my part to get theatre open again this summer. It is thrilling to see the big music festivals like Reading and Leeds on sale and that they have sold out in record time.
“I want to lead the way and give others confidence to follow suit by getting major musicals back open – they are the powerhouse of the West End – and have been out of action for almost a year now… I cannot wait to welcome back audiences to live theatre and bring life, employment and joy back to our capital city after a harrowing past year.”
Describing his new musical as “unlike any Cinderella you have ever seen”, Lloyd Webber went on to reveal that new casting has been ‘finalised’ for The Phantom of the Opera and the hit London Palladium revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will return in July.
Based on an original idea by Killing Eve screenwriter and actress Emerald Fennell, this 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).
The production will reunite Lloyd Webber with director Laurence Connor and choreographer JoAnn Hunter – the team behind Cinderella’s predecessor at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, School of Rock and the hit London Palladium revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Hope Fletcher (Les Misérables, Heathers, The Addams Family) will star opposite Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (A Chorus Line, In The Heights) as the Stepmother with Urdang Academy student Ivano Turco. The latter was cast as Prince Charming’s younger brother Sebastian after being spotted by Lloyd Webber and Connor.
All further casting and full details of the creative team will be announced at a later date.
The Gillian Lynne Theatre closed for internal upgrade work following the final performance of School of Rock The Musical which ended its popular West End run after playing more than 1,400 performances on 1 March 2020.
Lloyd Webber is the latest major industry figure to offer hope for the return of live theatre following the publication of the Government’s recovery roadmap. Last week Nica Burns told The Stage that she hopes to reopen all six of her Nimax West End theatres from 17 May 2021 – the earliest date for the return of indoor, socially distanced performances.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.