While Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella will arrive in the West End later than planned, the composer and his team’s preparation for the eagerly-anticipated world premiere continues with the casting of Cinderella’s wicked stepmother.
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (The View Upstairs, Soho Theatre, Murder Ballad, Arts Theatre) will play the villainous role alongside Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Carrie Hope Fletcher (Les Misérables, Heathers) in the new version of the classic fairy tale.
Commenting on Twitter, Hamilton-Barritt said: “My dreams of being a fairytale villain has been answered! I can’t wait to be part of getting @ALWCinderella into the #westend. A beautiful story with bite, edge and writing and song that will have you hooked!”
Originally due to begin performances at the newly-refurbished London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre on 28 August 2020 ahead of an official opening night on 23 September, Cinderella is currently due to debut in the autumn with performances beginning on 9 October with the opening night now scheduled for 28 October.
In a statement announcing the postponement of one of this year’s biggest theatre events, Lloyd Webber said: “In the current global circumstances the creative team and I feel that this later opening date is wise. Full scale pre-rehearsals of Cinderella will take place with our leading actors, as planned, throughout this month.”
Based on an original idea by Killing Eve screenwriter and actress Emerald Fennell (currently playing Camilla Parker Bowles in the high-profile Netflix series The Crown), the show will feature a new score by Lloyd Webber and lyrics by multi-award-winning writer David Zippel (City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl). The production will be directed by Laurence Connor who will reunite with his choreographer for School of Rock and the recent London Palladium revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, JoAnn Hunter.
Announcing details of the production earlier this year, Lloyd Webber said: “I have long wanted to write my own version of Cinderella but could never find a take on the classic story that really grabbed me. Emerald Fennell has written something truly exciting and original, and the moment I read her outline I knew I’d found my latest collaborator. I’m very pleased to be working with David Zippel, a hugely witty lyricist, once again.
“I’m also excited to be reunited with Laurence and JoAnn, who I loved creating School of Rock with and who delivered a knock out Joseph last Summer at the London Palladium”.
The Gillian Lynne Theatre closed for internal upgrade work following the final performance of School of Rock The Musical on 1 March 2020.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.