Will Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Cinderella’ open at full capacity at the Gillian Lynne Theatre?

The Prime Minister revealed he's in talks with Andrew Lloyd Webber ahead of the world premiere musical.

Just days before Cinderella was due to open at full capacity at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, the Prime Minister's address that Step Four is delayed until 19 July means that full capacity performances are still not permitted. Although the immediate future of Cinderella hangs in the balance, Boris Johnson has confirmed he's in talks with Andrew Lloyd Webber to open Cinderella as early as possible.

In a statement from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cinderella will still begin performances at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 25 June, as previously scheduled. Cinderella tickets are on sale now.

In the statement, Lloyd Webber says: "Cinderella will perform its first preview next Friday 25 June. Like theatres and venues across the country, this will sadly be at the Government's arbitrary 50 per cent capacity, not the 100 per cent we so passionately wanted. Having taken legal opinion from senior counsel, if we had gone ahead at 100% it would be very likely that every member of my cast, crew and orchestra, the front and backstage staff, plus our loyal audience members, could be individually fined hundreds of pounds, which I couldn't possibly risk. If it were just me, I would happily risk arrest and fines to make a stand and lead the live music and theatre industry back to the full capacities we so desperately need."

Cinderella stars Carrie Hope Fletcher as the title princess, alongside a cast including Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Ivano Turco, Rebecca Trehearn, Laura Baldwin and Georgina Castle. So far, four songs have been released from the musical, ahead of a full cast recording next month. 

Other Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals set to open this summer include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium and The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. As confirmed on social media, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will reopen from 1 July.

Cinderella is at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 25 June.

Cinderella tickets are on sale now.

^{Photo credit: Carrie Hope Fletcher in Cinderella rehearsals (Photo courtesy of Cinderella)}

Article Updated: 21 June 2021