LOVE NEVER DIES to Close in West End in August

Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical LOVE NEVER DIES will close on 27 August 2011. The production had recently announced that bookings were open through January 2012. The musical opened at the Adelphi Theatre 9th March 2010, with previews from 20th Feb and closed down briefly last winter for a set of changes.

The news comes on the heels of Andrew Lloyd Webber letting the world know what he thinks of the Melbourne version of LOVE NEVER DIES, his sequel to PHANTOM OF THE OPERA which opened last Thursday. The $9 million production has many differences from the LOVE NEVER DIES that has been playing in London for over a year. 'I would like this show to go everywhere because I think it's just the best,' Lloyd Webber told the Sydney Morning Herald of the Australian production, led by director Simon Phillips and designer Gabriela Tylesova. 'This is the show that should go to Broadway without any question, but it depends on how it all goes." Many financial negotiations will still be needed to open the show on the Great White Way.

Ramin Karimloo, nominated for Best Actor in a Musical Olivier, will continue to star as ‘The Phantom', with Tam Mutu as his alternate. Celia Graham plays ‘Christine'. Liz Robertson stars as ‘Madame Giry', and Haley Flaherty as ‘Meg Giry'. David Thaxton stars as ‘Raoul' and Adam Pearce will continue to play ‘Squelch' with Tracey Penn as ‘Fleck' and Charles Brunton as ‘Gangle', with Jack Costello, Daniel Dowling and Harry Polden sharing the role of ‘Gustave'.

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.

"LOVE NEVER DIES" continues the story of ‘The Phantom', who has moved from his lair in the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of Coney Island, far across the Atlantic. Set ten years after the mysterious disappearance of ‘The Phantom' from Paris, this show is a rollercoaster ride of obsession and intrigue...in which music and memory can play cruel tricks...and ‘The Phantom' sets out to prove that, indeed, "LOVE NEVER DIES".
Performances in London at the Adelphi Theatre will be Mondays - Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £25.00 - £67.50 (to include 75p theatre restoration levy and inclusive of booking fees), are available from the Adelphi Theatre Box Office on 0844 412 4651 or online from www.loveneverdies.com.