Today, Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd Webber hosted a reception to officially re-open the New London Theatre as The Gillian Lynne Theatre.
It was announced earlier this year that the West End theatre – which is currently the home of Andrew’s School Of Rock The Musical – will be renamed in honour of trailblazing choreographer, Dame Gillian Lynne. It’s the first West End theatre to be named after a woman.
Dame Gillian is famed for her work on Andrew’s most famous creation, Cats. Her ground-breaking staging and choreography for the iconic show earned her two Olivier Awards in 1981. That, along with her contribution to the arts world – from classical ballet to feature dance performance – earned her a Lifetime Achievement Special Award at the 2013 Olivier Awards. Over the course of her career, she’s directed more than 60 productions in the West End and Broadway, as well as working on 11 feature films. She was honoured with a CBE in 1997 and made a Dame in 2014.
The newly named Gillian Lynne Theatre is famous for being the home of the original production of Cats. It ran from 1981 to 2002 and was the West End’s longest running show at the time.
We went down to the renaming ceremony to celebrate this momentous occasion and the woman of honour:
We’re @SchoolOfRockUK this afternoon for the official renaming of the @Gillian_Lynne Theatre! pic.twitter.com/UHuLgm0Nsl
— Official London Theatre (@london_theatre) June 22, 2018
The stage is set at the @Gillian_Lynne Theatre! 🎭 pic.twitter.com/VpxTBt9ea0
— Official London Theatre (@london_theatre) June 22, 2018
A standing ovation – and a grand entrance – for this wonderful artist! #GillianLynneTheatre pic.twitter.com/j8j1naB5EP
— Official London Theatre (@london_theatre) June 22, 2018
After @OfficialALW presented @Gillian_Lynne with a key to the building (on a 🐱 keyring), @CamMackLtd summarised: “Over the years you’ve made many people look like stars. Today, you are the star.” ⭐️ #GillianLynneTheatre pic.twitter.com/RdSDslONbA
— Official London Theatre (@london_theatre) June 22, 2018
In regards to the theatre’s renaming, Andrew has said: “I am delighted to be able to announce that the New London Theatre is to be renamed as the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Gillian has been a pioneer of British musical theatre and dance. Gillie’s groundbreaking work on Cats inspired and launched countless careers un dance. It is only fitting that the theatre in which she created Cats is named in her honour.”
Visit the Gillian Lynne Theatre by booking tickets to School Of Rock – The Musical.