Starlight Express announces final extension and closing date

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seven-time WhatsOnStage Award-winning Starlight Express has set its final performance date at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre with one more extension.

The musical tells the story of Rusty the steam train, who dreams of becoming the fastest engine in the world. Since its 1984 premiere, Starlight Express has been seen by more than 30 million people worldwide.

The creative team is led by director Luke Sheppard, with set design by Tim Hatley, costumes by Gabriella Slade, lighting by Howard Hudson, sound by Gareth Owen and video by Andrzej Goulding. Orchestrations are by Matthew Brind with Lloyd Webber, musical supervision by Brind and David Wilson, musical direction by Denise Crowley and casting by Pearson Casting. Ashley Nottingham provides new choreography, with Arlene Phillips returning as creative dramaturg.

Performances take place at the Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, located within Wembley Park and a short walk from Wembley Park station.

The current company includes Gavin Adams as Rusty, Jade Marvin as Momma McCoy, Olivia Ringrose as Greaseball, Asher Forth as Electra, Sophie Naglik as Pearl, Georgia Pemberton as Dinah, Jaydon Vijn as Hydra, and Scott Hayward as Alternate Rusty, with Jamie Addison, Jessie Angell, Ollie Augustin,  Evan Taylor Benyacar,  Charles Butcher,  Cletus Chan, Tamara Verhoven Clyde, Jamie Cruttenden, Kelly Downing, Isaac Edwards, Maddy Erzan-Essien, Sam Gallacher, Lucy Glover, Amiyah Goodall, Dante Hutchinson, Iwan James, Lewis Kidd, Hannah Kiss, Nicole Louise-Lewis, Bethany Rose Lythgoe, Temi Olawole, RED, Ashley Rowe, Sheridan, Dieuwke Tonissen, Nicky Wong Rush, Charlie Russell, Lara Vina Uzcatia and Amber Weston.

It will run until 3 May 2026, with a world tour also confirmed today. By the time it closes, the show will be the longest-running revival of a Lloyd Webber musical in the capital in 20 years. A new London cast album, released in November 2024, has had over 17 million streams.