Leicester’s Curve theatre has extended until Sunday 17 January “due to popular demand” the run of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard—at Home.
In a first for Curve, the production was performed by the company in the theatre's newly configured auditorium and filmed in HD. So far, it has been seen in 36 countries.
Curve's chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said, "we've been blown away by the incredible response to our production of Sunset Boulevard and we’re thrilled the gates of Paramount will now remain open for one more week.
“We know nothing will ever replace the electric joy of live theatre but during this third national lockdown we hope this astonishing musical, performed by an incredible company of actors and musicians, continues to bring joy into our audiences' homes, both here in the UK and across the globe.”
The production includes a host of original company members from Curve's 2017 international touring production including Ria Jones as Norma Desmond, Danny Mac as Joe Gillis, Molly Lynch as Betty Schaefer, Adam Pearce as Max Von Mayerling, Dougie Carter as Artie Green and Carl Sanderson as Cecil B DeMille.
Foster directs the production which features book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton and is based on the 1950 film by Billy Wilder.
A 16-piece orchestra brings the score to life, with musical supervision by Stephen Brooker, musical direction by Chris Mundy and orchestral management by Stephen Hill for Musicians UK Ltd. The production team also includes set designer Colin Richmond, choreographer Lee Proud, lighting designer Ben Cracknell, sound designer Tom Marshall and video designer Douglas O'Connell. The production was filmed and edited by Crosscut Media.
As part of the extended run, Foster will host a live pre-show talk at 6PM on Tuesday 12 January including cast members Jones, Mac and Lynch as well as Brooker, Cracknell and company stage manager Julia Reid.
Tickets for the online event cost £10 per household while tickets for Sunset Boulevard—at Home cost £20 per household and can be booked at the Curve web site.