Illustrious West End producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh was treated to a 70th birthday surprise at the Noël Coward Theatre this morning, courtesy of the cast of his musical Half A Sixpence.
With the Chichester Festival Theatre’s celebrated revival of the classic show set to begin previewing at the St Martin’s Lane venue from 29 October, the cast surprised Cameron with an impromptu performance of Flash Bang Wallop at the theatre while he was inspecting the progress of works on the theatre.
And while Cameron was initially taken aback by the sudden outbreak of joyous music and vibrant choreography, replete with cast members swinging from chandeliers and firecracker explosions, he recovered enough to comment on the performance “… I don’t usually like surprises!”
Of the renovated Noël Coward Theatre, he went on to say “How they’ve managed to do all of this in a week amazes me. It’s great to see the whole theatre being used.”
And to the cast: “I can’t wait to see you on the 29th!”
Half A Sixpence opened in Chichester earlier this year to critical acclaim, and this month returns to the West End for the first time in 50 years. With a book by Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes, and refreshed music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the show tells the story of orphan Arthur Kipps, whose surprisingly vast inheritance catapults him from rags and paupers to riches and high society. But will he abandon his roots?
To witness the spectacular Half A Sixpence at its new home of the revamped Noël Coward Theatre, book your tickets through us here.
Everyone at Official London Theatre would like to wish Cameron a very Happy Birthday indeed!