Cinderella gets the boot after trouble-torn run
Performers denied fairytale ending as they hear of production’s closure via social media
GENERATIONS of children have fallen in love with the story of Cinderella, the girl who marries a handsome prince.
But a cast of performers have been denied their fairytale ending as the West End musical shuts down after just a year on stage following months of disruption from the pandemic.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, which is playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, will close on June 12 after an embattled run plagued by restrictions and illness.
The surprise announcement prompted outrage among actors who said they had cancelled other jobs and were in the midst of fittings and preparation when they found out via social media.
The musical, a reimagining of the classic fairytale written by Killing Eve showrunner Emerald Fennell, endured numerous delays and problems.
It was originally due to open in August 2020, but the closure of theatres under Covid essential-business laws meant it was then pushed back to October that year. It was then postponed several more times, eventually opening in August 2021.
At the time, Lloyd Webber said he was willing to defy the law to reopen his chain of theatres, which were suffering “acute financial stress”.
Despite initially positive reviews, it was largely snubbed at the Olivier Awards when nominations were announced last month.
There were also rumours of unrest after Lloyd Webber said he had told his young cast that “’nobody has a right to be on the stage” in a call with actors before a performance last November.
In a statement confirming the end of the run, Lloyd Webber said: “I am incredibly proud of Cinderella. Not only did it get some of the best reviews of my career, but we led the charge to reopen the West End, ensuring that theatre and live entertainment remained relevant and in the news.
“While mounting a new show in the midst of Covid has been an unbelievable challenge, we held the Government’s feet to the flames throughout their changes of heart during the pandemic.”
He added that he was preparing to launch Cinderella on Broadway, where it will open next March.
Some actors were told at a performance over the weekend, but many of the show’s other stars said they had found out about its cancellation through media reports on Sunday, or via text messages from friends.
The show had been preparing a new cast with actors due to take over roles, many of whom had had costume and dress fittings in preparation.
Summer Strallen, who had been preparing to join the cast in the role of the Queen with a year-long contract, said she had been “fired by social media, which is just not OK”.
She had attended a wig fitting on Thursday, three days before the announcement, and had turned down two other job offers to take the role.
Her agent had been emailed with the news on Sunday morning but she had received no direct communication, she said on Instagram.
Her agent Williamson & Holmes said the move was “completely unnecessary
‘We stand in support of our incredible clients in, and about to join, the show. This is not OK’
and wholly disrespectful to all of our hard-working, inspiring and brilliant industry. We stand in support of our incredible clients in, and about to join, the show. This is not OK and should never happen again.”
Luke Latchman, who was also about to join the cast, said he found out about the cancellation of the show on Twitter, after declining another job offer and spending hours preparing for the role, and was yesterday still unaware why it had been cancelled.
“This has destroyed me emotionally and financially,” he said.
Paul W Fleming, general secretary of the actors’ union Equity, said the way actors found out was “unacceptable” and said he had written to Lloyd Webber to “express our anger at this callous attack on the dignity of the Cinderella company”. Actors “must be compensated”, he said.
A spokesman said that “every effort was made by the Really Useful Group to ensure everyone involved in the production was contacted by call, email or in person either directly or via agents before the announcement was made public.”
Tonight’s performance is expected to go ahead as
planned.