News

Renovation work at the London Palladium is nearing completion, as the theatre (seen below with Sister Act signs) gets ready to open for The Wizard of Oz previews in just under a month's time.

In an interview with the Telegraph newspaper, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed his pleasure at how preparations for the show were progressing, both in the rehearsal room and behind the scenes at the historic venue he purchased 10 years ago.

Hidden Treasures Behind the Scenes

Plans for the theatre have included converting the box office into three new function spaces - the grandest of which has the historic roof light reinstated; the installion of a lift to improve accessibility, and an much-welcomed increase in the number of ladies toilets!

Sir Andrew described how many hidden treasures had been found during the building work, including a carpenter's workshop that had been boarded up for 70 years and a beautiful storeroom ceiling that had been covered over with plasterboard.

Meanwhile, on stage, sets for the new musical were being erected, with the Emerald City looking particularly impressive in scale!

Lloyd Webber Excited About the Production

The 62 year old composer went on to talk candidly about his desire to create a show that would make the most of the famous London Palladium stage and the talents of his actors:

"The most exciting thing about this production is to see if we can make it work for the first time in the theatre properly because it's never really translated on stage before."

"We've added four new songs because it didn't have anything for either of the witches or the wizard. There is a slightly longer opening sequence and we've gone back to an ending that is closer to the book than the film was."

"Rehearsals are going well. Danielle (Hope) is incredibly hard-working and she has developed a great relationship with Michael Crawford. She is getting the work experience of a lifetime by working with one of the greatest musical theatre performers we have ever had."

The Wizard of Oz - The Hottest Ticket in London!

With advance sales already reaching £8.5 million, The Wizard of Oz looks set to be the West End blockbuster of 2011.

Read the full Telegraph interview (and see pictures of the stage) with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber at the London Palladium here.

Visit our show page to check availability and book The Wizard of Oz tickets.