Lloyd Webber starts rehearsals as end of lockdown looms for theatre
CURTAIN CALL: LLOYD WEBBER BUOYED BY PM’S ROAD MAP
ANDREW LLOYD Webber has announced that rehearsals for his musical Cinderella have started following the Government’s announcement of a road map out of lockdown.
The impresario, who took part in the trials for the Oxford jab, said he felt “buoyed” by the announcement last week, after a “harrowing” year that has seen venues shuttered.
Cinderella is set to be staged at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End, with an original story by former Killing Eve showrunner and The Crown star Emerald Fennell.
Lord Lloyd-Webber also confirmed that a new cast for The Phantom Of The Opera had been finalised and that a production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will return to The London Palladium in July.
He said in a statement: “I am buoyed by the Government’s road map 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.
“So, I have put the wheels in motion for a summer reopening. We start rehearsals for my new musical Cinderella at The Gillian Lynne Theatre today. The script is by multiple Golden Globenominated Emerald Fennell and isn’t like any Cinderella you will have seen.”
The Government hopes to lift all remaining restrictions on social contact by June 21 at the earliest.
Prepared to do my part to get theatre open again this summer Famed composer and impresario Lord Lloyd-Webber