Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest musical Stephen Ward will close on 29 March after a four month run at the Aldwych Theatre. The show was originally booking until 31 May.
Starring Alexander Hanson as the title character, whose involvement in the Profumo Affair forms the basis for the musical’s storyline, the production opened in the West End in December 2013. In his four star review, The Telegraph’s Charles Spencer described the show as “sharp, funny and, at times, genuinely touching”.
Directed by Richard Eyre, the production charts the rise and fall of Ward as he meets young model Christine Keeler in a West End nightclub, an encounter that led to one of the biggest political scandals of the 20th century.
Talking about the show’s early closure, producer Robert Fox said: “I am very proud of the show and our wonderful company. Andrew has never been afraid to embrace difficult and challenging subject matters and Ward’s strong and compelling story highlights a serious miscarriage of justice. The piece set out to explore his fascinating life as a piece of serious theatre which has now been told to a new generation. I am very sad to see the show close in London but firmly believe this piece will be seen by many audiences in the future.”
Led by Hanson, the cast of the musical includes Charlotte Spencer, Charlotte Blackledge, Anthony Calf, Joanna Riding, Daniel Flynn, Ian Conningham and Chris Howell.
The production features a book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black, choreography by Stephen Mear and designs by Rob Howell.
It has not yet been announced what will follow the musical into the venue.