How Andrew Lloyd Webber’s doomed Cinderella show flopped on the West End

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Cinderella dramatically flopped on the West End, haemorrhaging a staggering £100,000 weekly and amassing losses exceeding £2 million.

In an unexpected plot twist worthy of a soap opera, the entire cast was dismissed shortly after a matinee performance, many learning of their sudden unemployment via social media. This debacle ignited a fierce backlash and prompted Equity, the performing arts workers’ union, to demand compensation.

Despite Lloyd Webber’s history of producing monumental hits like Phantom of the Opera and Cats—which have grossed billions and inspired major film adaptations—Cinderella disastrously turned into a pumpkin at the most inopportune time.

The Really Useful Group, Lloyd Webber’s production company, was compelled to close the show amid the severe financial strains brought on by the pandemic and dwindling audience numbers during the Omicron wave.

Phantom of the Opera, one of Lloyd Webber’s most celebrated works, has generated over £5 billion from more than 30 years of performances across 166 cities globally.

Its New York production alone has brought in nearly £1 billion and continues to draw crowds at some of the most prestigious venues worldwide.

Another success, Cats, debuted on London’s West End in 1981 and later took the American stage by storm, eventually grossing £1 billion over 21 years and 8,949 performances. Its Broadway counterpart lasted 18 years with 7,485 shows.

These musicals, along with School of Rock, have not only triumphed on stage but also transitioned into successful feature-length films: The Phantom of the Opera garnered an additional £123 million, School of Rock £105 million, and Cats £60 million.

His other notable productions include Jesus Christ Superstar, which opened on Broadway in 1971 and had earned £189 million by the decade’s end, running for 3,358 performances over eight years in the UK. Other hits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Wizard of Oz, and Evita.

Despite these successes, Lloyd Webber’s fortune, which is consistently ranked among Britain’s wealthiest musicians, plummeted by £275 million due to the pandemic, as reported by the Sunday Times Rich List. He revealed that the seven West End venues he owns cost him £1 million a month to maintain, even while closed.

Equity’s General Secretary Paul Fleming has been vocal about the harsh manner in which the cast was dismissed, stating: “Equity members made this show. They poured their hearts and skills into it through the worst two years in living memory. Now they’re jobless, effectively sacked by press release. We will get compensation for our members after the pain and distress this has caused them.”

In contrast, LBC’s Nick Ferrari defended Lloyd Webber, arguing that the uproar over the cast finding out through social media was misplaced: “Everybody is getting very excited about Cinderella and the stars saying they didn’t know and were told on social media – this is absolute nonsense,” he declared on air.

He explained that agents had been informed via email and a meeting was held, but the news spread rapidly online before many were fully aware.

The disappointment among cast members and fans was palpable. Actor Olly Reynolds discovered he had lost his job while on vacation: “I booked a holiday to celebrate getting this contract, and I’m on holiday and I found out on Twitter that I lost it. Honestly, you can’t write it.”

Despite the tumult, Lloyd Webber remains optimistic about the future of Cinderella, hinting at a potential Broadway revival: “I am incredibly proud of Cinderella. Not only did it get some of the best reviews of my career, but we led the charge to reopen the West End, ensuring that theatre and live entertainment remained relevant and in the news.”