Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Stephen Ward has posted closing notices at the Aldwych Theatre. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward with Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler and Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies.[/caption] The new musical, which premiered on 19 December 2013, will end its run at the Aldwych Theatre on 29 March 2014. The show about society osteopath Stephen Ward and the Profumo Affair of the 1960′s stars Alexander Hanson in the title role alongside Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler and Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies. The show closes on the same day as Lloyd Webber's former writing partner Tim Rice's new musical From Here to Eternity closes at the Shaftesbury Theatre, highlighting the tough conditions for new musicals in the West End. Stephen Ward's producer Robert Fox said in a statement that he was "very proud of the show and our wonderful Company" and that, "Andrew has never been afraid to embrace difficult and challenging subject matters". Directed by Richard Eyre, Stephen Ward features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black. BOOK SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre

Video: A new trailer for Stephen Ward The Musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Aldwych Theatre [caption id="" align="alignright" width="140"] Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre[/caption] A brand new trailer has been released for Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre. The show stars Alexander Hanson (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Stephen Ward, Charlotte Spencer (Mary Poppins) as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies, Anthony Calf (Private Lives) as Lord Astor, Daniel Flynn (Bracken Moor) as John Profumo and Joanna Riding (The Pajama Game) as Valerie Hobson. BOOK SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Stephen Ward The Musical at the Aldwych Theatre VIDEO Stephen Ward - Trailer httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2KXDyttZBU

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Stephen Ward, set during the Profumo Affair, is extending its run at the Aldwych Theatre. The West End production is extending its run until 31 May 2014 at the Aldwych Theatre. Set during the 1960's and focusing on the Profumo Affair that rocked British society, the show features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black, direction by Richard Eyre and set and costume designs by Rob Howell. Stephen Ward stars Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward, 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 Edgecombe. LINKS Book tickets to STEPHEN WARD at the Aldwych Theatre

A round-up of reviews for Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre A new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is an event any day of the week, but the first night of Stephen Ward was particularly eventful given that it was the same night as the roof collapse over at the Apollo Theatre. The show is about vilified society osteopath Stephen Ward, who was victim of the political fall-out from the Profumo scandal in 1960's Britain. Lloyd Webber and lyricist Don Black aim to press home the miscarraige of justice suffered by Ward at the hands of the British establishment. Richard Eyre directs an accomplished cast including Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward, Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies and Joanna Riding as Valerie Hobson. Other cast include Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray, Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon and Wayne Robinson as Johnny Edgecomp, plus Martin Callaghan, Kate Coyston, Jason Denton, Julian Forsyth, Amy Griffiths, Paul Kemble, Emma Kate Nelson, Carl Sanderson, Emily Squibb, John Stacey, Helen Ternent and Tim Walton. Read reviews below from the Standard, Guardian, Telegraph, Variety and more. Book tickets to Stephen Ward http://storify.com/westendtheatre/stephen-ward-round-up-of-reviews

Production photos of Stephen Ward The Musical at the Aldywch Theatre [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Stephen Ward The Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. Photo: Nobby Clark[/caption] Andrew Lloyd Webber's brand new musical Stephen Ward gets its world premiere this week at the Aldwych Theatre in London. Directed by Richard Eyre, the new musical features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black. Set in 1963, the show deals with the Profomo scandal that rocked British society and brought down a government. At the heart of the scandal was society Osteopath Stephen Ward, friend to film stars, spies, models, government ministers and aristocrats. His chance involvement with the young and beautiful Christine Keeler led to one of the biggest political scandals and trials of the 20th century, and saw his dramatic fall from grace and eventual suicide. A talented cast includes Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward, 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 Edgecombe. [ngg src="galleries" ids="226" display="basic_imagebrowser"] Stephen Ward opens this Thursday, 19 December 2013.

 In "A Theatre Life" we ask some of the most important and influential people within the London theatre business to reflect on their life and work. Sir Richard Eyre Sir Richard Eyre We can't do any better than Judi Dench in summing up the impact and importance that Sir Richard Eyre has had on West End, British and world theatre, through his long career of writing, adapting, directing and managing: "He's an extraordinary man of the theatre. He's an incredible man of integrity about the theatre, and you feel, when you're working with him, that you're in very safe hands. He believes in the theatre passionately." (from PBS). Currently directing his adaptation of Ghosts at the Almeida, and about to helm Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Stephen Ward in the West End, Richard Eyre has directed an extraordinary wealth of plays and musicals, both new and classic, over his career. He has also managed playhouses, most notably the National Theatre from 1988 to 1997, directed for TV and film, and is an acclaimed author. What was your earliest ambition?To be a fireman. How do you spend the first hour of your day?3 times a week running in Hyde Park, 4 days a week answering e-mails. How physically fit are you?See above. Are you political?Yes. I'm a Labour supporter in spite of much provocation to defect. What's your biggest extravagance?A house in Gloucestershire. Personal wealth or reputation? Which is more important?Reputation. What is your most treasured possession?I tempted to say my reputation but more truthfully it's my house in Gloucestershire. Is London the world's greatest location for theatre?Yes. In what place are you happiest?Gloucestershire. Who do you most admire? Actors or theatre practitioners?Actors. What ambitions do you still have? What drives you on?My ambition is to keep working. What is the single greatest achievement in your life so far?Running the National Theatre for 10 years. If your 18 year old self could see you now, what would they say?"I don't believe it." How would you like to bow out of your career?By dying. Does theatre really matter?Of course. There's no art that uses time, space, gesture, movement, speech, colour, costume, light and music in the way that theatre does. It's never like real life but it's true to life. It's poetic: it thrives on metaphor - things stand for things rather than being the thing itself, a room becomes a world, a group of characters become a whole society. That's why it's so good at dealing with politics and morals. Theatre invokes the astonishment of the unreal, and the strange, magnified, proportions which occur naturally in childhood. And it always relates to the scale of the human figure and the unamplified voice. Which London theatre holds the strongest memories for you?The Olivier. * * * * * * * * * Ghosts at the Almeida Theatre is now in previews and opens this Thursday, 3 October 2013, running until 23 November 2013. Adapted and directed by Richard Eyre, Ghosts stars Lesley Manville as Helene in Ibsen's classic drama. Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre starts previews from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013 and is currently booking to 1 March 2014.  Richard Eyre directs Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical about the Profumo Affair starring Alexander Hanson, Charlotte Spencer and Charlotte Blackledge.  LINKS Richard Eyre - more news and shows Almeida Theatre Website: Book tickets to GhostsBook tickets to Stephen Ward at the Aldwych TheatreRichard Eyre on Desert Island DiscsDebretts: Richard EyreWestendtheatre.com: More on Richard EyreA Theatre Life: More interviews in the "A Theatre Life" series

The cast has been announced for Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Stephen Ward, including Alexander Hanson, Charlotte Spencer, Charlotte Blackledge, Anthony Calf, Daniel Flynn and Joanna Riding. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler, Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward and Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies in STEPHEN WARD[/caption] Andrew Lloyd Webber, Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black's new musical STEPHEN WARD, about the 1960's Profumo scandal, is set to have its world premiere at the Aldwych Theatre on 19 December 2013 (previews from 3 December 2013). Richard Eyre directs a principle cast that includes Alexander Hanson (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Stephen Ward, Charlotte Spencer (Mary Poppins) as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies, Anthony Calf (Private Lives) as Lord Astor, Daniel Flynn (Bracken Moor) as John Profumo and Joanna Riding (The Pajama Game) as Valerie Hobson. Other cast include Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray, Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon and Wayne Robinson as Johnny Edgecomp, plus Martin Callaghan, Kate Coyston, Jason Denton, Julian Forsyth, Amy Griffiths, Paul Kemble, Emma Kate Nelson, Carl Sanderson, Emily Squibb, John Stacey, Helen Ternent and Tim Walton. Stephen Ward has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black. Design will be by Rob Howell and choreography by Stephen Mear. Set in 1963, the musical centres on the rise and fall of society osteopath Stephen Ward and his role in the scandal that rocked the UK government. With film stars, spies, models, government ministers and aristocrats embroiled in the scandal, including the young and beautiful Christine Keeler, the musical tackles one of the great scandals of 20th century Britain. LINKS Book tickets to Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre in London