Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella to reopen next month after premiere pulled due to Covid-19

Musical had been due to premiere this week but was forced to cancel after cast member tested positive

Isobel Lewis
Friday 23 July 2021 14:58 BST
Comments
Carrie Hope Fletcher and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt in ‘Cinderella'
Carrie Hope Fletcher and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt in ‘Cinderella' (Tristram Kenton)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Cinderella will open next month after being forced to close due to coronavirus.

The stage show, which stars Carrie Hope Fletcher as the lead, had been due to open this week after nearly a month of previews.

However, in the wake of both shows last Saturday (17 July) being cancelled after a member of the cast tested positive for Covid-19, the show’s opening night was pulled on Monday (19 July) just hours before the performance.

This had meant to be the day that theatres could reopen at full capacity following the lifting of lockdown measures.

“Today, on this ‘Freedom Day’, I have been forced to take the heart-breaking decision not to open my Cinderella,” Lloyd Webber wrote.

“My sadness for our cast and crew, our loyal audience and the industry I have been fighting for is impossible to put into words. Freedom Day has turned into closure day.”

It has now been announced that performances of Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre will resume next month, on Wednesday 18 August.

The official opening night will now take place on Wednesday 25 August.

Lloyd Webber has vocally criticised the government’s treatment of the arts during the pandemic, initially saying that he would reopen theatres when lockdown was originally scheduled to end in June, even if it meant being arrested.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in