The Stage

Strictly Come Dancing judge’s Sunset Boulevard to transfer to London

Published Tuesday 18 November 2008 at 11:25 by Lalayn Baluch

A new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, which opened at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury earlier this year and is directed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, is set to transfer to London’s Comedy Theatre on December 4.

The show will replace Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig, currently starring Kelly Brook. It will be the first time that the musical has been seen in the West End in 11 years.

Kathryn Evans will take the part of Norma Desmond, Dave Willetts will feature as Max Von Meyerling and Ben Goddard as Joe Gills.

Based on Billy Wilder’s 1950 Oscar-winning film of the same name, the story tells of a struggling Hollywood writer and his relationship with Desmond, an actress desperate to make her comeback. The stage version originally premiered at the Adelphi Theatre in 1993.

Sunset Boulevard has a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The show will be produced by Howard Panter for the Ambassador Theatre Group, Tulchin/Bartner Productions and Bill Kenwright Ltd.

It will be the fourth Watermill production to transfer to London, following The Gondoliers in 2001, Sweeney Todd in 2004 and Mack and Mabel in 2006.