Stars of West End’s Cinderella told show was axed MINUTES before going on stage
WEST End musical Cinderella has been axed — with stars of the Covid-hit show learning their fate only minutes before going on stage.
Cast and crew found out after seeing a post on Instagram just as they were about to perform at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre on Sunday night.
The show, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, has suffered crippling losses since opening last July.
Actress Summer Strallen, niece of EastEnders star Bonnie Langford, was due to play the Wicked Queen.
In an Instagram video, she said: “I basically got fired by social media, which is just not okay. I had to turn down another job because of it.”
More than 60 current and incoming actors, plus dozens of crew and front-of-house workers, will lose their jobs.
Read more on the West End
Some cast said Cinderella management had emailed their agents “minutes before” posting news of the show’s closure on Instagram.
And some staff were angry Mr Lloyd Webber released a statement announcing a new version of the show will open on Broadway, New York.
In his statement, Mr Lloyd Webber said he was “incredibly proud of Cinderella”, adding: “We led the charge to reopen the West End, ensuring that theatre and live entertainment remained relevant and in the news.
“Thank you very much to everyone involved, particularly our UK audiences who have loved and supported the show. See you next March on Broadway!”
