The War Of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience from experts in the field Layered Reality takes H.G. Wells’ famous novel, adds a heavy layer of input from the famous 1978 concept album masterminded by Jeff Wayne and has its audiences (in groups of no more than a dozen) moving through 24 separate scenes in the remnants of an old Metal Exchange in the heart of London’s financial district.
‘Plenty to be admired’: THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE – Rose Theatre ★★★
While Christopher Haydon’s of The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Rose Theatre is filled with playfulness, it feels also as though it has too many ideas crammed into it, making it feel a little confusing in places.
What are this year’s biggest Olivier Awards shortlists snubs & surprises?
It’s always said that the honour is being nominated at all; in artistic endeavour, it should be a competition anyway. But what about those who are not nominated at all? Where does that leave them?
’Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first solid smash hit for quite some time’: CINDERELLA – Gillian Lynne Theatre ★★★★
Andrew Lloyd Webber may have composed better scores than his new Cinderella, but he has certainly never created anything camper, and no, I haven’t forgotten Sunset Boulevard. This collaboration with Oscar winning book writer Emerald Fennell and lyricist David Zippel (City of Angels, ALW’s own The Woman In White) actually feels like something of a return to form, not because it’s much like anything else in the Lord’s canon thus far, but more because, after well over two decades, a new musical by this country’s most successful theatrical composer actually feels, once again, like a major West End event. School Of Rock doesn’t count as it was already a solid Broadway hit by the time it opened at the same Gillian Lynne Theatre that Cinderella is now gaudily occupying.
‘A sumptuous visual & musical treat’: CINDERELLA – Gillian Lynne Theatre ★★★★★
We can finally go to the ball, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella was well worth the wait. Emerald Fennell’s treatment of the fairy tale frames Cinderella as a social outcast in a town obsessed with beauty.
‘This ball of a show was worth the wait’: CINDERELLA – Gillian Lynne Theatre
Despite threats that Cinderella might be cancelled for good, or exported to a more supportive arts climate, here it is at last and, I am happy to report, this ball of a show was worth the wait.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre
We round up the reviews for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Cinderella, which has finally been able to open at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
‘Lloyd Webber pulls the perfect rabbit from his big, glittery-witty, musical revolving top hat’: CINDERELLA – Gillian Lynne Theatre
Cinderella’s brilliant trick is the show’s have-cake-and-eat-it ability to debunk all the traditional glamour and romance while actually indulging it.
‘Turns the clock back on the West End musical’: CINDERELLA – Gillian Lynne Theatre
It has been harder for Andrew Lloyd Webber to schedule a press night for Cinderella than any prince has ever had to find the wearer of the glass slipper in the fabled fairytale.
NEWS: World premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella is set for 25 August 2021
The Really Useful Group has announced, after a period of enforced closure, the world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella will be on 25 August 2021.
NEWS: Covid self isolation guidance forces West End opening night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella to be postponed
Following the cancellation of weekend performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre, due to one member of the company testing positive for Covid-19, the composer has announced today that the opening night and gala evenings (19 and 20 July 2021) will also not go ahead.
Full cast announced for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella
The full cast has been announced for the forthcoming world premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, featuring music by Lloyd Webber, book by Academy Award-winning Emerald Fennell and lyrics from David Zippel.
Mark Shenton’s weekly chart of forthcoming theatrical comings & goings has some new entries
This weekly column keeps track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, as theatres prepare to re-open from next month onwards. It will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.
Returning & new productions heading for the West End & beyond post-lockdown: Are you up to date?
Meanwhile, I want to start keeping track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, in a new feature here that will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.
The long wait for Tony Awards 2020 results & Andrew Lloyd Webber’s great expectations for West End openings in the summer
Voting has just begun for last year’s Tony Awards. Yes, you read that correctly. And no, there is no date for the actual (or even virtual) ceremony yet. In the topsy-turvy world that Covid-19 has wrought upon us, we’re wrestling with all sorts of improbabilities and impossibilities, but few events epitomise the very strangeness of this time and its repercussions than this weird situation.
NEWS: Andrew Lloyd Webber prepares to open his West End musicals in summer 2021
Andrew Lloyd Webber has begun rehearsing his brand new musical Cinderella, stating he hopes the move will give other producers “confidence to follow suit by getting major musicals back open”.
NEWS: The latest single from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella – ‘I Know I Have A Heart’ – is released
Polydor Records has announced the release of the third piece of music from the forthcoming album of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella. ‘I Know I Have A Heart’ is sung by Carrie Hope Fletcher and is released today (12 February 2021).
As more productions are postponed, we can only fantasise about what theatre will look like ’when Covid is over’
Far from returning to ‘normal’, the latest rush in trying to re-open theatres – albeit under supposedly Covid-secure conditions – seems to have created a further climate of chronic uncertainty and even more financial losses.
NEWS: New graduate Ivano Turco wins lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella musical
The latest cast member to be announced for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Cinderella is Ivano Turco. Just graduated from Urdang Academy, Turco will be making his West End debut in the show as Sebastian, the younger brother of Prince Charming. Cinderella will open at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre on 19 May 2021, with previews from 30 April.
NEWS: Run of Les Misérables – The Staged Concert is extended due to latest Government restrictions on seating capacity
The run of Les Misérables –The Staged Concert at London’s Sondheim Theatre has been extended to 28 February 2021, with performances beginning on 5 December.