Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End musical Cinderella is set to end, less than one year since it opened.
The final performance of the composer’s reimagined show will take place on June 12.
While the show will no longer be performed on London’s West End, a production of Cinderella is due to open on Broadway in New York next year following a revamp, according to a statement from Lloyd Webber’s production, licensing and promotion company, Really Useful Group.
There has been uproar over the way the ending of the show has been announced, with current actors and actors set to join the cast finding out through articles and on social media.
Carrie Hope Fletcher, who plays the role of Cinderella, said on Twitter: “I don’t think I have the words. And if I did I would probably be advised not to say them. Sending love to all impacted by today’s news and by how that news was delivered.”
I don’t think I have the words. And if I did I would probably be advised not to say them. Sending love to all impacted by todays news and by how that news was delivered. 💔
— Carrie Hope Fletcher (@CarrieHFletcher) May 1, 2022
Luke Latchman, who had been due to join the cast, also said in a Tweet: “Imagine – planning in your head 100 times what you’re going to say when it’s announced. Telling your friends and family you have something coming and can’t wait to tell them about it. Knowing that career changing West End lead was coming. Then you see a tweet and it’s all gone.”
A statement given to the BBC from a spokesperson of Really Useful Group said: “The entire company working yesterday were told in person after the matinee performance. There was no evening performance so this was not before a show last night.
“At the same time as the company were told, everyone not present was called or emailed by the wider RUG team. Every effort was made to ensure that the message was distributed as widely as possible as quickly as possible but clearly we had to move quickly as news was getting out on social media.”
Cinderella’s run has been turbulent after it was first announced in 2020 due to COVID-19 delays, cancellations, a postponement during the Omicron spread and positive tests amongst cast members. The play finally opened at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in August 2021, after its July premier was aborted.
According to the Guardian, theatregoers with tickets for performances after the June 12 closing date will be contracted by the box office, or the ticket agent they used to purchase their tickets to discuss options.
Image: Jack1956/CC BY-SA 4.0/ Edited for size