Just announced: FIRST EVER UK TOUR OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S LOVE NEVER DIES

David Ian and the Really Useful Group are delighted to announce the first ever UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LOVE NEVER DIES. Following on from the sell-out North American tour, the  sequel to The Phantom of the Opera will open at Leicester Curve on Saturday 26 September 2020 where it will play until Saturday 10 October 2020. The show will then play Manchester Opera House from Wednesday 14 – Saturday 24 October 2020, with further venues and casting to be announced soon.  Tickets go on sale on 29 and 31 January

This production of the show was first seen in Australia, before embarking on the hugely successful tour of North America and received acclaim from both audiences and critics alike. It is directed by Simon Phillips, with set and costume design by Gabriela Tylesova, choreography by Graeme Murphy and sound design by Mick Potter.

LOVE NEVER DIES has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Ben Elton, based on The Phantom of Manhattan by Frederick Forsyth, additional lyrics by Charles Hart, orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Love Never Dies Tour to Start Next February

At the Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years TV Special which was recorded last weekend the Lord said that Love Never Dies was being resurrected. And producers David Ian and Michael Harrison have now confirmed that they are in the process of  booking a 75-80 week tour starting in February 2014 and going into 2015 with a possible West End return at the end depending on its success.

The production will be based on the revised Australian version that opened in Melbourne in May 2011 before moving on to Sydney at the end of the year. This is the same version that was filmed for DVD release and also shown in some cinemas.

Andrew Lloyd Webber flying to Melbourne for filming of Love Never Dies

Andrew Lloyd Webber is due to fly to Melbourne tomorrow for the filming of Love Never Dies later this week. This  will be be his second visit to Australia this year after flying from London in May for the premiere of The Phantom of the Opera sequel.

This is the first time an Australian production has been filmed for international DVD release with six cameras and 30 crew from Universal Pictures International Entertainment recording the show at the Regent Theatre on Wednesday with Lloyd Webber also in attendance.


The DVD  of Never Dies is expected to be released before Christmas - date still to be announced.

Love Never Dies DVD

The Melbourne production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies which opened in  May will be filmed for global DVD release at performances between September 12th-15th with a release date for the DVD yet to be announced, but I am sure it will be out in time for Christmas!

Love Never Dies will end its Melbourne engagement December 18th prior to re-opening in Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in January 2012.

The London Production of the show is due to close at the Adelphi this Saturday 27th August.

Australian Love Never Dies to be released on DVD

The UK version of Love Never Dies is due to close at the end of this month,  but the revamped version which is opened to great critical acclaim at Melbourne's Regent Theatre earlier this year,  is due to be filmed live at the performance on 15th September for worldwide release on DVD.

 No news yet on likely release date.

Love Never Dies to close in August

There has been much speculation on the future of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies for several months, but it has now been confirmed that the production will close at London’s Adelphi Theatre on 27th August 2011.

It is reputedly making way for the National’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors starring James Corden which runs at the Lyttelton Theatre into the autumn and then tours from September 27th till October 29th prior to transferring into the Adelphi.

Love Never Dies opened in the West End in March 2010 and has just opened its Australian production in Melbourne to great critical acclaim.  There had been reports that Lloyd Webber would work changes from this production into the London show ahead of any future international productions.

Love Never Dies took four nights off last November for improvements,  but with poor audience figures it seems that it will be taken off completely and then re-opened in London next year or go out on tour as a new production.

Love Never Dies closing to make way for James Corden play?

Rumours have been circulating for months about the demise of Love Never Dies. But this one seems to have more substance as according to today’s Daily Mail James Corden and the National Theatre's One Man, Two Guvnors is eventually heading for Broadway, but before that happens a deal has been done for the play to transfer to the Adelphi Theatre from mid-November.

The Corden play runs at the Lyttelton Theatre into the autumn and then tours from September 27th till October 29th, prior to transferring  into the Adelphi.

If this is true it means Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies will close.  A number of the principals including Ramin Karimloo and David Thaxton are anyway due to leave in September.  This would give ALW an opportunity to completely revamp the show along the lines of the critically acclaimed and very successful Australian production and do a West End relaunch or tour in 2012.

STOP PRESS:  Just been announced that Love Never dies is closing on 27th August 2011.

Love Never Dies closing for two weeks in September

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Phantom sequel Love Never Dies is closing at the Adelphi Theatre for two weeks from September from 5th-17th (which is the date of the cast change when  Ramin Karimloo and David Thaxton leave) for “maintenance work”.

This presumably means they will incorporate some changes from the successful Australian production and re-open with a new cast.

Camelot to replace Love Never Dies?

According to today’s Daily Mail Andrew Lloyd Webber is struggling to keep Love Never Dies running in the West End which is unlikely to recoup its costs. The musical cost £5.5M to stage and has returned about £1.3M to investors. The producers are not allowed to raise further funds to keep it running and the Really Useful Group been funding it for several months, cutting the running costs by £15,000 a week.

It is currently booking to January 14th, with rumours at one stage that it was to close at the end of this summer. The Adelphi Theatre is jointly owned by Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group and the New York-based Nederlander Organisation who have been pushing for a proposed revival of Lerner & Lowe’s musical Camelot directed by David Leveaux and starring Robert Lindsay to take its place.

A new version of Love Never Dies has been very well received in Australia and opens in Melbourne tomorrow. An executive involved in the London shows has said ‘There is no decision to close the show in London.’ If ALW does want to include the changes from this new production he would have to shut it again to reopen with new sets, costumes and cast.  The current Phantom, Ramin Karimloo, is due to leave the show later this year on 3rd September.

So Camelot is on hold for now … watch this space.

Nicole Scherzinger singing Love Never Dies

If you didn’t listen to the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio2 this morning when his guest was Andrew Lloyd Webber, then make sure you catch it later when it's available on the BBC website as there is a real treat in store with a world exclusive of a recording of the theme tune from Love Never Dies ALW made with Nicole Scherzinger over a year ago.

It’s fabulous and really showcases her voice. Hopefully she will release it on an album one day.

Hear  it on YouTube

New Cast for Love Never Dies

As already mentioned, Ramin Karimloo is extending his contract as the Phantom in Love Never Dies for another six months up until 3rd September. But he will be on a six performance contract with Monday and Thursday being the likely evenings when he will not be on.

Liz Robertson (Madame Giry), Adam Pearce (Squelch) and Charles Brunton (Gangle) will stay with the show.

From 7th March they will be joined by several new cast members including David Thaxton who is  taking over as Raoul from Joseph Millson with Celia Graham as Christine, Haley Flaherty as Meg Giry, and Tracey Penn as Fleck.  They are taking over from Sierra Boggess, Summer Strallen and Niamh Perry.

The company also includes Nick Blair, Dale Branston, Abigail Brodie, Kieran Brown, Nick Crossley, Natalie Edmunds, Chris Gage, Lucy Van Gasse, Mirela Golinska, Daniel Gourlay, Simon Ray Harvey, Grace Holdstock, Lucinda Lawrence, Vanessa Leagh-Hicks, Louisa Lydell, Lisa Mathieson, David McMullan, Colette Morrow, Ashley Nottingham, Mira Ormala, Rae Piper, Alexa-Jayne Robinson, Andrew Rothwell, Simon Storey, Tim Walton and Zara Warren. Jack Costello, Daniel Dowling and Harry Polden share the role of Gustave; Tam Mutu is the alternate Phantom.

Ramin Karimloo's new performance schedule in Love Never Dies

Love Never Dies’ Phantom Ramin Karimloo has finally confirmed his new performance schedule in the show when the cast change happens on 5th March.

As previously mentioned, he has extended his contract for six months until 3rd September.  But he has a new reduced new performance schedule as he will be playing the role for six shows a week,  and at the moment is saying the nights he won’t be on are Mondays and Thursdays.

He’s also mentioned a record deal so hopefully things are moving on for his group the Sheytoons.   I’ve seen them perform and they certainly deserve one

Love Never Dies Cast changes

As previously blogged, with the cast changes taking place in Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre on 5th March, David Thaxton is taking over the role of Raoul from Joseph Millsom.

Other changes are that Celia Graham (who is currently Christine’s understudy) will take over the role from Sierra Boggess who is heading to Broadway to star in Master Class with Tyne Daly.
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Ramin Karimloo is extending his contract and remaining as the Phantom for a while longer (end date not yet known) and Haley Flaherty (Rocky Horror Show, Mamma Mia, Follies, Grease, Chicago, Saturday Night Fever) is taking over as Meg Giry from Summer Strallen who is leaving to go on a tour of Top Hat the Musical  with Tom Chambers.



The new cast takes over on 7th March.

David Thaxton opens as Raoul in Love Never Dies tomorrow

The new cast of  Love Never Dies open at the Adelphi Theatre tomorrow (Monday 6th March).

David Thaxton has taken over the role of Raoul from Joseph Millsom. He played Enjolras in Les Miserables last year but left the show to play  Giorgio in the Donmar Warehouse production of Sondheim's musical Passion for which he is currently up for an Olivier Award.

Australian cast for Love Never Dies

The Phantom and Christine in the new Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies are being played Ben Lewis and Anna O’Byrne.

Ben’s previous stage credits include the original Australian cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical, Sir Galahad in the original Australian cast of Monty Python’s Spamalot, two-seasons as Count Carl-Magnus in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, Urinetown with Sydney Theatre Company and Polites in The Odyssey for Black Swan and the Malthouse.

Anna O’Byrne has already played Christine to great acclaim in an Australian tour of The Phantom of the Opera.  She is an award-winning classically trained singer, and has performed as Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera and appeared in works by Mozart, Puccini and Ibert for The Victorian Opera, Victorian College of the Arts and Victorian Youth Opera.

Performances will begin May 29th  at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne.

The London production of Love Never Dies starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess has just extended its booking period at the Adelphi Theatre to January 2012.

Critics invited back to review revamped Love Never Dies

Love Never Dies recently closed at the Adelphi Theatre for three days so that some changes could be implemented. Since it re-opened all the feedback I have received about the re-vamped version has been most mostly positibve.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has clearly decided that the time is right to try to win the hearts of the London critics as they have been invited to revisit and re-review the show on 21st December.

There has been no announcement about who has actually implemented the changes, which include the repositioning of Ramin Karimloo's (The Phantom) ballad "Till I Hear You Sing" at the start of the show and the revised ending, but it is believed that producer and director Bill Kenwright has played a big part.

Sunset Boulevard, Lloyd Webber's last original musical to play at the Adelphi Theatre, was also “tweaked” during the course of its West End run and invited the critics back to see it again.

Re-worked Love Never Dies much improved

When Love Never Dies opened at the Adelphi Theatre earlier this year one of the reviewers on the Hollywood trade journal Variety wrote: “Only a radical rewrite will give it even the remotest chance of emulating its predecessor.” So that is exactly what Andrew Lloyd Webber has done.

Perfectionist Lloyd Webber did not take the criticisms lightly and worked with co-writer Ben Elton for six weeks re-working the script. Love Never Dies then closed for four days at the end of last month so the set could be altered to accommodate the new version which opened last week.

The original director Jack O’Brien was replaced by Lloyd Webber’s impresario, actor and director Bill Kenwright who suggested a series of bold changes. The Phantom Of The Opera lyricist Charles Hart was asked to help make the songs clearer for the audience and choreographer Bill Deamer was brought in to inject more energy.

Ramin Karimloo who plays the Phantom and Sierra Boggess (Christine) led three weeks of intense rehearsals with the rest of the cast before reopening night.

According to audiences and various people I know in the business, the changes seem to have worked with the show receiving a standing ovation on its re-opening night. . The critics have been invited back to review the show at the official opening night of the new version on 20th December.

Lloyd Webber is said to be delighted by the new version the positive reaction it had received.

Is Ramin Karimloo too young to play Phantom in Broadway’s Love Never Dies?

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies will have its $10 million Australian premiere in Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on May 20th 2011.  Nationwide auditions are already under way at Sydney's Wharf Theatre with more than 900 hopefuls expected to audition in Sydney and Melbourne.

Sir Andrew said a decision on the principal cast would be made before Christmas. He has said he is looking for a more mature Phantom and Christine saying: “We can't get away with a 30-year-old Phantom. He has to be older and Christine also has to be a little bit more mature. With the original Phantom production, I wrote it so the girl who sang it could have quite a light voice but I would say in Love Never Dies Christine has to have a more developed voice. It doesn't necessarily have to be a huge voice but it certainly has to be grown up. In the original, Christine was only meant to be 18.”

If the Australian production and cast live up to Sir Andrew's expectations, he said the show and stars could form the basis of the Broadway version when Love Never Dies moves to New York.

This might come a bit of a shock for 32 year old Ramin Karimloo (who is currently playing the Phantom at the Adelphi Theatre) as he has said he is leaving the West End show next year (no date yet fixed) to join Love Never Dies when it opens in Toronto which is meant to be the pre-Broadway stop over. 

Phantom Lyricist Charles Hart involved in Love Never Dies Revamp

I have already mentioned that Bill Kenwright is overseeing the inclusion of some changes to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies when it closes for four days next month at the Adelphi Theatre, but now it seems there is a new lyricist on board as well.

Charles Hart has been brought in to re-jig the words to some of the numbers so that they fit the revamped production.  He is best known  re-writing the lyrics and contributing to the book of  The Phantom of the Opera, as well as  co-writing (with Don Black) the lyrics to Lloyd Webber's 1989 musical Aspects of Love.

Apparently Kenwright is not re-directing the production as first thought but is helping to correct some of the show's problems, including the ending which in my opinion really does not work.

Bill Kenwright to take over as Director for Love Never Dies

I have just blogged that Love Never Dies is to close for four days in November and has extended its booking period to 28th May next year,

But I have just heard that during the closure for re-working prolific producer Bill Kenwright will be the new Director and Bill Deamer the Choreographer instead of Jack O’Brien and  Jerry Mitchell respectively.  Deamer most recently worked with Kenwright on the current international tour of Evita.

Kenwright  has been linked to ALW a lot lately and appeared as one of the judges on his Any Dream Will Do search to find a Joseph.