New Andrew Lloyd Webber concert plays at Curve Leicester – first look!

A new concert inspired by the career of Andrew Lloyd Webber is currently playing at the Curve Leicester theatre.

The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber is a spectacular concert performance featuring music and memories from the extraordinary life and career of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Directed by Nikolai Foster (Sunset Boulevard – at Home, West Side Story, My Beautiful Laundrette), the piece runs from 7 to 19 June as part of Curve’s socially distanced season.

The cast will feature Madalena Alberto (Evita, Dominion Theatre), Jessica Daley (An Officer and a Gentleman, Curve and UK tour, Over The Rainbow, BBC), Tim Howar (The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre), Shem Omari James (Songs For A New World, London Palladium), Ria Jones (Sunset Boulevard, Curve), Karen Mavundukure (The Color Purple, Curve) and Tim Rogers (Jesus Christ Superstar, UK and European tour).

A teaser shares: “Experience some of musical theatre’s all-time triumphs as we join the Phantom, Grizabella, Eva Peron, the Lord himself (in a pre-recorded video) and a host of iconic characters performing Andrew’s greatest songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, The School of Rock, Tell Me on a Sunday, Sunset Boulevard, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and more.”

Matthew Spencer-Smith will lead a band of eight musicians as Musical Director and Colin Richmond will provide design for Curve’s specially adapted in-the-round auditorium. Curve Associate Artists Mel Knott (Movement Director), Ben Cracknell (Lighting Designer) and Kay Magson CDG (Casting Director) also join the production team, with sound design by Tom Marshall. Completing the company are Sam Paterson, Production Manager; Jennifer Lane Baker, Birkbeck Trainee Director; James Hayden-Harler, Company Stage Manager and Lisa Lewis, Deputy Stage Manager.

Andrew Lloyd Webber will also guide audiences through the performance in specially pre-recorded scenes filmed at Curve and around Leicester, captured by Crosscut Media.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.curveonline.co.uk

Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said: “Andrew’s thrilling music and the incredible characters and stories he has brought to life, alongside some of our greatest lyricists, ensures this concert will be the perfect celebration to mark Curve’s reopening.

“We are proud to be joined by an astonishingly talented company of actors, musicians and creatives to mark this unique occasion in our theatre’s history. Whilst we are proud of everything we’ve achieved online during lockdown, nothing beats the shared experience of live theatre and we hope this Concert – performed by this outstanding company- will be the perfect way to bring audiences together once more. Everyone at Curve is incredibly excited to bring theatre back to Leicester and welcome our audiences safely back to Curve.

“We are indebted to Andrew and his team at RUG, and as ever, our sincere thanks to Leicester City Council, Arts Council England and the Culture Recovery Fund for their support during this time.”