PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD_

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West End hit coming here
Mary O’Leary

The massive West End musical hit Sunset Boulevard will begin its first UK tour in Plymouth this summer.
Plymouth's Theatre Royal has achieved another coup by securing the UK opening of the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber show.
The spectacular musical, which won an unprecedented seven Tony Awards on Broadway, will run for just over four weeks from August 10 to September 8 before touring the country, making Plymouth audiences the first to see the show outside the West End.
This follows the Theatre Royal's much-heralded booking of another West End musical, Fosse, which will make its only UK stop in Plymouth this May before setting off on a European tour.
In the past, the theatre has also managed to book shows like Oliver, Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera to launch their UK tours from Plymouth.
Theatre Royal Chief Executive Adrian Vinken said the Sunset Boulevard booking was more ‘good news'.
He said: "Sunset Boulevard is a massive show with a massive reputation. Securing Plymouth as the launch venue for its first UK tour is nothing short of a major coup for the Theatre Royal and for the city.
"We are delighted that we can continue to lay claim to presenting the worlds best musical theatre for people across the South West."
Sunset Boulevard, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber's own production company, The Really Useful Group, features one of the musical creator's most memorable and haunting scores.
Set in the Hollywood of the early 50s, it is based on Billy Wilder's classic film.
The hit musical tells the compelling story of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition as it follows flamboyant silent movie actress Norma Desmond planning her return to the silver screen after 30 years out of the spotlight.
The film itself won three Oscars, and since Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version opening in London in 1993, it has been seen by more than two million people.
Public booking for the Plymouth run opens at 10am on Monday, May 14, with tickets on sale priced £18.50-£30. For more details, call 01752 267222.
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Train farce is so nearly
end of the peer show
by Liz Parks

Musical maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber paid a surprise visit to Plymouth to see his smash-hit show Sunset Boulevard – but he almost missed curtain up because of a nightmare train journey.
The millionaire composer decided to travel down to see the production at short notice, giving the show's cast just minutes' notice that he would be in the audience.
He and his wife, Madeleine caught the 3.19pm from Newbury service which should have got into Plymouth at 6.13pm, leaving him plenty of time before the musical began at 7.30pm. But his First Great Western Train was stopped just before Exeter after the train in front broke down, leaving Lord Lloyd Webber's train, and three others, queuing behind it for 30 minutes.
The train resumed its journey, only to be terminated unexpectedly at Newton Abbot.
As staff from the peer's Really Useful Group quickly organised a taxi from Newton Abbot station to Plymouth, news was broken to the cast and crew that Lord Lloyd Webber would be in the audience.
As the minutes to curtain up ticked by, it looked as though the composer would miss the start of the musical, but at 7.32pm, the taxi arrived outside the Theatre Royal and Lord Lloyd Webber rushed to take his seat in the mid stalls.
Speaking during the show's interval, Lord Lloyd Webber said: "It's been a great joy because it has been the first time that I have seen it. I must say they have done a wonderful job. It looks absolutely fantastic. I have never heard or seen any of this company, but so far I am really impressed."
Lord Lloyd Webber said he was impressed with the Theatre Royal and was aware of Plymouth's strong reputation for production.
He said: "I have only sat in there a short time. It looks terrific and there are very good set lines."
"One of the great things about Plymouth is that it has wonderful workshops, something not just me, but other producers have said. It's a great base to have. I think that's what attracts people here a lot."
But he was less than impressed by his journey to Plymouth.
"First Great Western should be sued on the grounds that they are neither first nor great," he said.
"The train decided not to go through Exeter and then we were dumped at Newton Abbot. Luckily there was a taxi there and the nice taxi driver stepped on it."
Lord Lloyd Webber left Plymouth after the show, opting to be driven back to his home in Sydmonton, Hampshire. Plymouth is the first date on an 18-month national tour of Sunset Boulevard.
The musical is at the Theatre Royal until September 8. For tickets telephone 01752 267222

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Curtain rises on Sunset Boulevard

Plymouth theatre lovers are in for a treat tonight when Sunset Boulevard officially opens at the Theatre Royal.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which stars singer, actress and television personality Faith Brown as tragic Hollywood queen Norma Desmond, is guaranteed to thrill city audiences.
Plymouth is the opening venue on the first ever UK tour of this large-scale and sumptuous production, which is based on the 1950 Oscar-winning film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Gloria Swanson.
It originally opened in the West End in 1993 and has since been seen by over two million people across the world, winning seven prestigious Tony Awards on Broadway in 1995.
The musical tells the story of how ageing, silent movie actress Norma Desmond is desperate to make a comeback and plans her return to the silver screen 30 years after being a huge star, with her young lover, a struggling screenwriter named Joe Gillis.
Sunset Boulevard originally opened in London with Patti LuPone playing the part of Ms Desmond.
When the musical ran at the Minskoff Theatre in New York, in 1994 the lead role was taken over by Glenn Close.
Sunset Boulevard runs in Plymouth until Saturday, September 8.
Matinee performances are on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm
Ticket prices range from £15.50 to £27.50 with concessions and are available on 01752 267222 .