Lloyd Webber labels Cinderella musical ‘a costly mistake’

Andrew Lloyd Webber called his production of Cinderella in the West End "a costly mistake" on the night of the show’s final performance.

The production came to a close at Gillian Lynne Theatre on Sunday evening (12 June), after the composer unexpectedly cancelled the show weeks ahead of schedule.

Lloyd Webber was not in attendance, but the production’s director Laurence Connor read a letter from the impresario to the audience.

The statement paid tribute to the production’s cast, crew, musicians and creative team, before lamenting the decision to open a musical during the pandemic.

“I keep thinking if only we had opened three months later, we wouldn’t have had to postpone our opening twice because of Covid,” the statement continued.

“And if only we had had a crumb of help from the Recovery Fund, I promise you we would have been here for a very long while to come.”

The statement was met with jeers from audience members, following boos when Lloyd Webber's name was read out during the curtain call.

A revised version of Cinderella is expected to open on Broadway next year.