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[theatreloveruk]

Paul Coxwell dropped from co-producing Underneath the Lintel
Paul Coxwell has been removed as co-producer of West End show Underneath the Lintel, after he “failed to fulfil his financial obligations” on the production.
According to the play’s lead producer, MJE Productions, run by Carole Winter and Michael Edwards, Coxwell will no longer participate in the control and running of the show, although he remains an investor.
“Paul has been in breach of contract for several weeks, therefore as from immediate effect, he can no longer be credited as a co-producer of Underneath the Lintel, nor be taking any of the decisions relating to the show,” Winter and Edwards explained.
“We are just sorry that despite all our efforts to avoid getting to this point, we have not been able to avert the situation. Believe us, we tried.”
MJE said the decision would not affect the business of the show in any way and that they have the resources to finance the production without Coxwell’s help. However, shortly after their comments were made, the show’s run was cut to seven weeks.
Coxwell insists the situation is down to an investor who failed to pay up. Coxwell told The Stage: “As happens so often in this business, I had an investor who decided he didn’t want to be involved at the last minute, which is why this happened.
“I am, however, delighted that I am a significant investor in this production and I wish it well for the rest of its run.”
It is the second time that 22-year-old Coxwell has been embroiled in controversy, having been behind the cancelled tour of musical Personals, which was due to star Gary Wilmot and premiere at Blackpool Grand last year.
The show was pulled less than two weeks before opening and never made its planned three-month UK tour. At least one company member still claims to have been left unpaid.
Coxwell was a recipient of the 2005 New Producer’s Bursary, having set up two limited companies by the age of 19 - REACT! Theatre and Oscada.
The former was set up to run a series of youth music and drama showcases around the country, while the latter was launched to produce theatre, film and conference work.
He now also runs Paul Coxwell Ltd, a division of Oscada. Under the Lintel, which stars West Wing star Richard Schiff was set to be his first West End production. In the autumn, he is due to produce a new West End version of Some Like it Hot, although no venue or dates have yet been announced.