Andrew Lloyd Webber: LOVE NEVER DIES Aims to Return to London 'Later This Year'

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose many musicals include the long-running THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, has announced further plans for its sequel LOVE NEVER DIES.

Lloyd Webber tells What's On Stage that he plans to bring the Australian version of LOVE NEVER DIES back to London "later this year or early next."

In LOVE NEVER DIES, 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of The Phantom from the Paris Opera House, Christine Daaé accepts an offer to come to America and perform at New York's fabulous new playground of the world - Coney Island. Christine arrives in New York with her husband Raoul and their son Gustave. She soon discovers the identity of the anonymous impresario who has lured her from France to sing.

The London premiere, which opened in March 2010, was directed by Jack O'Brien and featured choreography from Jerry Mitchell and design from Bob Crowley. Simon Phillips directed the Australian premiere, with Gabriela Tylesova behind the design. Guy Simpson, who worked with the Australian production of Phantom, served as music supervisor, and Graeme Murphy choreographed.

The remounted production would likely be based on the Australian version of the show - it had worked better than its London counterpart because of "little involvement" on Lloyd Webber's part, he jokes - though there has been no word on whether the London production would shift the announced plans for a UK tour.