The world premiere of Stephen Ward, the latest musical from legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, has set a closing date of March 29 in London’s West End. Directed by five-time Olivier winner Richard Eyre, the show began previews at the Aldwych Theatre on December 3, 2013 and opened on December 19.
Featuring a book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black (who collaborated with Lloyd Webber on Sunset Boulevard), Stephen Ward tells the story of the scandalous Profumo Affair of 1963, in which Secretary of State John Profumo had an affair with a call girl by way of an osteopathic experimentalist (the titular Stephen Ward) who stands trial for pimping out clients.
The production stars Alexander Hanson as Ward, with Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice-Davies, Anthony Calf as Lord Astor, Daniel Flynn as John Profumo, Joanna Riding as Valerie Hobson, Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray, Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon and Wayne Robinson as Johnny Edgecomp.