Blog: Closed West End Shows That Deserve A UK Tour

Inspired by Tim Wright's blog for BroadwayWorld last week that listed West End shows that he'd like to see touring, I've put together a list of shows that have closed in London which I think deserve to be revived on tour.

I would also like to clarify that when I say "UK tour" I mean a tour that has dates in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. All too often we see UK tours that stop off in two other English cities before heading to London...

Memphis

Of all the West End shows that I miss, I miss Memphis the most. When it closed, the general public (AKA my Twitter feed) was confident that a tour was in the works. But Memphis closed a little over two years ago now and there's still no sign of it coming back to us. With a stunning cast, infectious songs and wonderful story this is a musical that is just crying out for a tour revival.

I'm thrilled that the London cast released a recording, but I will not rest until I see that show back onstage. I wouldn't dare to dream of Killian Donnelly and Beverley Knight reprising their roles for a UK tour...but wouldn't it be amazing if they did?

We Will Rock You

OK, so it's toured a few times, but not since 2010. We Will Rock You is undeniably silly, but it has wide appeal and will always do well on tour. I have a huge soft spot for the show and will always welcome a touring production with open arms.

While there are many performers I would love to see in this show, the first that springs to mind is Natalie McQueen for Scaramouche. Having seen her perform in Murder Ballad and Wonderland I think she would bring just the right amount of sass, backed up with powerhouse vocals!

Gypsy

Again, I'm kidding myself thinking Imelda Staunton would reprise her role for a UK tour...but imagine if she did! While a huge amount of the praise for the 2015 London production came from Staunton's star turn as Rose, Gypsy really was an all-round marvellous show that I'd be glad to see given life around the country.

The Light Princess

The National Theatre's production of The Light Princess was surprisingly short-lived. The show opened in September 2013 to positive reviews and closed in February 2014. While to many it was "The Tori Amos Musical", attracting fans from all over the globe, The Light Princess is based on a Scottish fairy tale and is very much its own show.

The Color Purple

I missed out on seeing The Color Purple in London because I assumed that it would have a full West End run. Closing in 2013 at the Menier Chocolate Factory after a two-month stint, it had extremely high praise.

Sadly, the production bypassed the West End and went straight to Broadway in 2015, where it won two Tony Awards and ran until January 2017. The general public loves a musical based on a well-known film or book, and I think a tour of The Color Purple would be very well received.

Which closed West End shows would you like to see revived on tour? Tweet us @Broadwayworlduk and let us know, or leave your comments on our discussion board!

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