Gossip

Will Starlight Express Be Rolled Out Again in 2012???

Editorial Staff
London's West End

Could Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe’s 1984 West End musical Starlight Express be preparing to roll back out on tour in the new year? Listings for the show, which last toured from Manchester in 2004, have recently appeared on a number of regional theatre websites.

Lloyd Webber wrote Starlight Express, a tribute to the era of steam trains and performed entirely on roller skates, for two of his children.

The musical originally opened at the West End’s Apollo Victoria on 27 March 1984, playing 7,406 performances during its 18-year run to 12 January 2002. By the time the show finished its West End run it had been seen by over 8 million people and taken more than £140 million at the box office.

The last touring production, which was brought to the stage by a number of the original creative team including designer John Napier and choreographer Arlene Phillips, was produced by David Ian for Clear Channel Entertainment and was on the road until March 2008. The upcoming tour is produced by Bill Kenwright Limited.