A powerful new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard will be opening at York Theatre Royal on Wed 09 Jun 2027 – with priority booking opening for YTR members from 1pm on 29 Sep.
Directed by Lotte Wakeham, Artistic Director of Octagon Theatre Bolton, the musical will be performed by a company of actor-musicians in an intimate staging that places the music, storytelling and audience closer than ever before. The production celebrates Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic score, including With One Look, As If We Never Said Goodbye and Sunset Boulevard.
The production is the first new professional staging of Sunset Boulevard to be created by a theatre in the North of England. It is a co-production between York Theatre Royal, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Royal & Derngate Northampton. The show will open in Bolton (02 Apr – 01 May), before its run in Northampton (05 May – 22 May) with the final performances in York (09 Jun – 26 Jun.)
Silent film star Norma Desmond longs for the spotlight that once made her a legend. When struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis enters her secluded world, hope soon gives way to obsession as their lives become entwined in a tragic search for love, success and belonging.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, Sunset Boulevard is based on Billy Wilder’s celebrated Paramount Pictures film. This new production brings one of musical theatre’s greatest works to York Theatre Royal, putting its characters and score at the heart of the experience.
Lotte Wakeham, Director said: “Sunset Boulevard is a story about ambition, reinvention and the price of chasing the spotlight. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary score is full of drama and longing, and staging the show with actor-musicians gives us the chance to make every musical moment feel immediate and alive.
I’m excited to create a brand-new production which embraces that intimacy, drawing people into Norma and Joe’s world and allowing them to experience this iconic musical from a fresh perspective – literally in ‘close up’. It is also a privilege to make the first ever new professional production of Sunset Boulevard created by a theatre in the North of England, alongside our brilliant partners at Royal & Derngate and York Theatre Royal.”
Paul Crewes, Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal said: “It is very exciting for us to be co-producing the spectacular musical Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber. We will be partnering with our friends at Octagon Theatre and Royal & Derngate for the first time to create a reimagined production of this classic story. We look forward to bringing this show to our stage in June 2027.”
Priority booking opens for YTR members from 1pm on 29 Sep, with general onsale on 06 Oct at 1pm. Find out more here.
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