Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present Mary Poppins at London’s Prince Edward Theatre.
The multi-award winning stage adaptation of Disney’s much-loved film Mary Poppins is now playing in London – but hurry, it must end 8 January 2023.
The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs.
Mary Poppins is brought to life by an award-winning creative team including book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and “Downton Abbey” creator, Julian Fellowes, direction by Richard Eyre, Co-direction and Choreography by Matthew Bourne, with Co-choreography by Stephen Mear and design by seven-time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley.
This classic musical features a magical score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman including the songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Mary Poppins is booking until 8 January 2023 at the Prince Edward Theatre, London
Who is in the Mary Poppins London cast?
The London production of Mary Poppins is led by Zizi Strallen (Strictly Ballroom, Cats) as Mary Poppins and Charlie Stemp (Hello, Dolly!, Half A Sixpence) as Bert. The cast also features Charlie Anson as George Banks, Amy Griffiths as Winifred Banks, Petula Clark as Bird Woman, Liz Robertson as Miss Andrew, Claire Machin as Mrs Brill, Jack North as Robertson Ay and Paul F. Monaghan as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman.
Louis Gaunt will take over from Charlie Stemp as Bert from 22 June 2022 for approximately 3 months. Charlie’s return date has not yet been announced.
The ensemble comprises Yves Adang, Angeline Bell, Lydia Boulton, Alison Connell, Adam Davidson, Danielle Delys, Joseph Dockree, Charlie Donnelly, Stan Doughty, Glen Facey, Davide Fienauri, Harry Francis, Lyndsey Gardiner, Ian Gareth-Jones, Maria Garrett, Mark Goldthorp, Jacqueline Hughes, Emma Hunter, Jason Kajdi, Sam Lathwood, Jordan Livesey, Tania Mathurin, Laura Medforth, Alex Pinder, Ben Redfern, Clare Rickard, Lucie-Mae Sumner, Scott Waugh and Monique Young.
Creative team
Book by Julian Fellows with score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman with additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Mary Poppins is directed by Richard Eyre with co-direction and choreography by Matthew Bourne, and co-choreography by Stephen Mear. Set and costume design is by Bob Crowley with lighting design by Hugh Vanstone and Natasha Katz, sound design by Paul Gatehouse, orchestrations by William David Brohn, and dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles.
Reviews of Mary Poppins
★★★★★ "Stageful of sugar is a rapturous delight" - The Guardian★★★★★ "The most delightful West End show in years" - Daily Telegraph
★★★★★ "Joyous show is practically perfect in every way" - Express
★★★★ "This feel-good extravaganza defies both logic and pessimism" - Evening Standard
★★★★ "This nanny goes down a storm" - The Times
Show Information
Matinees: Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Show Photos
Show Videos
Cast Highlights
Important Notes
Casting: Charlie Stemp leaves the show on 19 June 2022 for a temporary period, replaced by Louis Grant.Showtime: Family Night performances on Wednesdays at 19:00
Please note: Mary Poppins contains theatrical smoke and fog effects, pyrotechnics, strobe lighting and loud noises.
Mask
The government advises you to wear a face mask in crowded and enclosed spaces
Covid safety
This venue is complying with the latest industry 'See It Safely' guidelines.
Venue Information
Prince Edward Theatre, 28 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4HSNearest Tube or Train: Leicester Square (Northern line, Piccadilly line)
Nearest Buses: 14, 19, 38
Ticket Information
Official London Theatre tickets for Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre, London
Book tickets to Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre with WestEndTheatre.com. You will be purchasing official London theatre tickets from an authorised retailer and member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers. Mary Poppins booking calendar and seating plan
News about Mary PoppinsMore >

New production images of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London have been released.
Starring Zizi Strallen in the title role with Louis Gaunt stepping into the role of Bert for the Summer, the smash-hit musical is playing in London until 8 January 2023.
The cast includes Charlie Anson as George Banks, Amy Griffiths as Winifred Banks, Petula Clark as Bird Woman, Liz Robertson as Miss Andrew, Claire Machin as Mrs Brill, Jack North as Robertson Ay and Paul F. Monaghan as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman.
Charlie Stemp will return to play Bert from 26 September 2022.
Based on the stories by PL Travers and the original Disney film, the magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny is spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs.
Book tickets to Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre
The curtain is to come down on Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. The show will play its final performance on 8 January 2023.
Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the original Walt Disney film, this production of Mary Poppins opened in October 2019 and played to March 2020 when it closed due to the Covid shutdown. Post pandemic the production re-opened in August 2021 and will now play a further six-month extension into Christmas and New Year.
The West End cast is led by Zizi Strallen as Mary Poppins and Charlie Stemp, though Stemp has taken the summer off to appear in Crazy For You over in Chichester, with Louis Gaunt stepping in to play Bert.
Mary Poppins continues to spread her magic around the globe, having just opened in Tokyo earlier this year and Sydney in May where it has been received wonderfully by critics and audiences alike.
Cameron Mackintosh said “When the new revised production of Mary Poppins opened at the end of 2019 with a tremendous cast headed by Zizi Strallen, Charlie Stemp and Petula Clark, the response was even more ecstatic than the original. We had always planned to run two years until the physical production was required elsewhere but covid managed to stretch our timetable into 2023 allowing everyone to enjoy an additional supercalifragilistic last Christmas jolly holiday season. Mary Poppins has remained a timeless and timely, uplifting and joyous theatrical experience – but Mary never says goodbye, only au revoir… till we meet again.”
Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, said “Over its 18 years on stage, each new production of Mary Poppins has managed to speak to us in new, resonant ways – and never more than in this jewel of a production under Richard Eyre’s loving oversight. As they continue playing in productions around the world, Mary, Bert and the entire Banks family have still much to share – as Mary herself says, ‘with a good deal of love’.”
The stage production originally opened in the West End in December 2004, running for over 1,250 performances. During this time, the production won two Olivier Awards and an Evening Standard Award. Subsequently the Tony Award®-winning Broadway production ran for over six years. Mary Poppins was also the winner of Best Musical Revival at the 2020 Whatsonstage Awards and Best Set Design and Best Theatre Choreographer awards at the 2020 Olivier Awards.
Other cast includes Charlie Anson as George Banks, Amy Griffiths as Winifred Banks, Petula Clark as Bird Woman, Liz Robertson as Miss Andrew, Claire Machin as Mrs Brill, Jack North as Robertson Ay and Paul F. Monaghan as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman.
Book tickets to Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre

The cast of Mary Poppins performed at West End Live 2022 this weekend, 25 – 26 June 2022.
The Mary Poppins cast including Zizi Strallen as Mary Poppins and Louis Gaunt as Bert sang songs from the show including Chim Chim Cher-Ee, Practically Perfect and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Hosted in Trafalgar Square by the Society of London Theatre, thousands of West End Theatre musicals fans gathered for two days of fabulous performances from casts of West End shows, off-West End productions, and musicals currently touring the UK.
Book tickets to Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London
Watch Mary Poppins at West End Live

The West End productions of Hamilton and Mary Poppins have both announced new booking periods with additional changes to their performance schedules.
Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre is now booking until 17 December 2022. From 12 July 2022, the performances schedule will change to play evening performances Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, and matinee performances on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm. It will no longer play on Sunday.
Now approaching its fifth year at the Victoria Palace Theatre, the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning production remains one of London’s hottest theatre tickets. As previously announced, from 21 June 2022 the show welcomes Reuben Joseph to the title role of Alexander Hamilton with Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Aaron Burr, Allyson Ava-Brown as Angelica Schuyler, Shan Ako as Eliza Hamilton, Roshani Abbey as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Trevor Dion Nicholas as George Washington, Waylon Jacobs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Emile Ruddock as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jake Halsey-Jones as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and Joel Montague as King George III. At certain performances the role of Alexander Hamilton will be played by Alex Sawyer.
Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre is now booking until 18 December 2022. Mary Poppins currently plays Thursday – Saturday at 7.30pm with a Family Night on Wednesday at 7pm and matinees on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm. From 30 June 2022 it will also play Monday at 7.30pm. Book tickets to Mary Poppins.
The multi-award winning stage adaptation of Disney’s much-loved film is led by Zizi Strallen(Strictly Ballroom, Cats) as Mary Poppins and Charlie Stemp (Hello, Dolly!, Half A Sixpence) as Bert. The pair have both been given a few weeks leave from the show so Strallen can star in Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man at the Royal Albert Hall and Stemp to appear in Crazy For You at Chichester Festival Theatre.
Hamilton and Mary Poppins are both present in the West End by Cameron Mackintosh.
Other West End shows which have recently extended their booking periods include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (28 May 2023); Pretty Woman (28 January 2023); Back To The Future: The Musical (12 February 2023); Disney’s The Lion King (12 February 2023); Jersey Boys (30 April 2023); Moulin Rouge! The Musical (7 January 2023); and, & Juliet (25 March 2023);

West End triple threat extraordinaire Charlie Stemp is leaving Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre.
He may be back after the Summer, but in the meantime he’ll be starring in Crazy For You over in Chichester directed by Broadway legend Susan Stroman. His replacement will be Louis Gaunt, who takes over from 22 June 2022 to play the iconic role of Bert.
Louis Gaunt is in the new series of Bridgerton, and his stage credits include Sweet Charity, Kiss Me, Kate, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, The Happy Prince, Grease, Gypsy and Sleeping Beauty. It’s a great opportunity for Louis and we can’t wait to see him play against Zizi Strallen as Mary Poppins.
Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the original Walt Disney film, Mary Poppins continues to be a smash at the Prince Edward. Other cast includes Charlie Anson as George Banks, Amy Griffiths as Winifred Banks, Petula Clark as Bird Woman, Liz Robertson as Miss Andrew, Claire Machin as Mrs Brill, Jack North as Robertson Ay and Paul F. Monaghan as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman.
Book tickets to Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre
Tony Award winning Broadway director and choreographer Susan Stroman is coming to the UK this year to direct a new revival of smash-hit musical Crazy for You.
Produced by Chichester Festival Theatre and timed to celebrate their 60th anniversary season and the 30th anniversary of the show, Crazy For You will star Charlie Stemp as Bobby, who returns to Chichester following his breakout debut in Half a Sixpence in 2016.
Stemp is currently starring as Bert in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London, and will leave the show on 19 June 2022, to be replaced by Louis Gaunt from 22 June. Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical Productions have left it open whether Stemp will return to the show.
Other casting for Crazy For You includes Tom Edden as Follies impresario Bela Zangler, although there’s no news on who will play the female lead, Polly.
Crazy For You will run at Chichester from 11 July to 4 September 2022.
Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, she returns to the show after choreographing the original 1992 Broadway production directed by Mike Ockrent. The first West End production was in 1993 at the Prince Edward Theatre, directed by Ockrent, choreographed by Stroman, and starring Ruthie Henshall, Kirby Ward, and Chris Langham.
The creative team also includes set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume designer by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, musical direction by Alan Williams, new orchestrations by Doug Besterman and Mark Cumberland, original orchestrations by William David Brohn, sound design by Kai Harada, new arrangements by David Krane, original arrangements by Peter Howard and casting by Jill Green CDG.
Crazy For You features music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, a book by Ken Ludwig, co-conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent, and is inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan.
The show is full of Gershwin melodies, including Someone to Watch Over Me, Embraceable You, I Got Rhythm and They Can’t Take That Away from Me, and features a succession of glorious tap-dance routines.
The plot of the show centres on theatre-mad Bobby Child, who is torn between his show-business dreams and his rich, demanding New York fiancée and rich, demanding New York mother who want him to run the family bank. On his mother’s insistence, he reluctantly heads west for the bygone mining town of Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a mortgage. There he finds the mortgage in question is on a dilapidated Victorian theatre and the owner’s daughter Polly is the girl of his dreams. Desperate to prove his good faith and win her love, Bobby lights on the idea of putting on a show – complete with glamorous dancers from New York’s Follies – to save the theatre and renew the town…
Stroman is at the top of the Broadway tree, having won five Tony and two Olivier Awards for productions including The Producers, Contact and The Scottsboro Boys.
Charlie Stemp plays Bobby, returning to Chichester where he played Arthur Kipps in Half A Sixpence in 2016, for which he won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Musical and received Olivier and UK Theatre Award nominations. The production transferred to the West End, and was recently broadcast on Sky Arts as Kipps – The New Half A Sixpence Musical. He has starred on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! opposite Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters, and at the London Palladium in Dick Whittington, Snow White and Pantoland at the Palladium. He is currently playing Bert in Mary Poppins in the West End, for which he received his second Olivier Award nomination.
Tom Edden makes his Chichester debut as Bela Zangler; he received a Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nomination for One Man, Two Guvnors at the NT, West End and on Broadway, and his extensive work also includes Cyrano de Bergerac, Matilda, The Pinter Season and Les Misérables in the West End, Amadeus at the NT and Oliver! at Sheffield Crucible.
Book tickets to Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London

Rankin also launches new PERFORMANCE book featuring photos from the exhibition
Rankin, one of the most celebrated photographers in the UK, has a new photo exhibition in London – and it features the stars of West End shows.
The free exhibition, titled “Performance by Rankin”, opened last month at theFujifilm House of Photography on Long Acre in Covent Garden, and continues until 30 January 2022.
The exhibition celebrates the return of live theatre and musicals to London after the Covid lockdowns, and has seen Rankin join forces with the Mayor of London and the Society of London Theatre on the project.
“Performance by Rankin” demonstrates the talent and resilience of our West End people – both in front of the curtain and back stage, and to celebrate the fact that London theatre is the cultural heart of our city.
Over 150 portraits from nearly 60 shows are included in the exhibition featuring star actors and dancers, writers, directors, dressers, stage doorkeepers, producers, stage managers, designers, technicians, pit musicians, puppeteers, front-of-house staff and more.
The exhibition is free, but visitors are encouraged to donate on site to the Theatre Artists Fund, which provides emergency aid to struggling theatre freelancers, as well as to four London youth homelessness charities selected by the Mayor of London: Depaul , akt , Centrepoint and New Horizons Youth Centre.
On 25 November Rankin also launched a new, limited edition book called PERFORMANCE that is a companion to the exhibition. A short run of copies has been printed on the Fujifilm Jet Press 750S with the remainder printed offset using Fujifilm’s Superia processless printing plates, by Emmerson Press. All profits from the book go to the charities listed above, and you can buy PERFORMANCE from Rankin here.
People photographed for the exhibition and book include Alfred Enoch, Rory Kinnear, Omari Douglas, Zizi Strallen, David Harewood and more, from casts and crews of shows including Six The Musical at the Vaudeville Theatre, Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre, Disney’s The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre, Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at the Lyric Theatre, Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, Only Fools and Horses at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre.
Rankin is one of Britain’s most famous living photographers and has photographed everyone, from Queen Elizabeth II to The Rolling Stones, Daniel Craig, David Bowie, Jamie Foxx and Madonna.
Selected images from Performance
More from Rankin about the “Performance” project
“Not many people realise that most, including lots of the famous ones, hate to have their photo taken. They’re reluctant to get out under the lights pose. They don’t want to be looked at, scrutinised, or judged. A lot of them hate to have an audience and dislike to be the centre of attention. It’s always funny to me, though, whilst the people in front of my camera, with their hair and makeup perfect, don’t always want to be looked at. They often forget they’re looking back at me.
“In that way, everything I do as a photographer is a form of performance. Every move I make is seen. I have to be on, I have to be chatty, and I have to be what you want a photographer to be. Over the last 30 years, I’ve rehearsed, practised (a lot), and I think I’ve honed my craft. I’ve learnt the way to speak, the way to direct, the way to act around all types of people. Ultimately, how to get the shot – but I have to perform to get there.
“When we started this project, I tried to understand why the lack of live theatre over the last year had meant so much to me. Why I had felt such a personal loss. Then I realised. Theatre, like photography, is a team sport. It does not happen alone, and it is a home of true collaboration. Theatres closing lined up with when my studio fell quiet, my team taken away. I felt the loss of theatre because it was emblematic of the wider creative world shutting down and the isolation we all felt. It was the loss of the performance we all collaborate in every day.
“Taking pictures for this new project, the joy that every single subject brought to the sessions was like a breath of fresh air, rejuvenating my energy for what I do, as well as giving everyone a chance to perform again, albeit it just for my camera. The joy of being together, working on something collaboratively, was one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever been part of.
“Theatre is the beating heart of London’s cultural scene. It is what draws people to the West End and allows all of us to escape into another world or narrative for a few hours. As people, we need to entertain and be entertained. It helps us feel things, to connect to laugh, cry and everything in between. So here’s to performance. I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate its return.”

Reviews are in for the West End revival of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre in London.
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s sumptuous production returns to London for a limited season at the Prince Edward. The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny is spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs.
Based on the stories by PL Travers and the original Disney film, Mary Poppins has a book by Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), with a timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman and new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Multi-talented Zizi Strallen takes the star role of Mary Poppins in the show, with song and dance man Charlie Stemp as Bert.
Mary Poppins has a formidable creative team, including direction by Richard Eyre, design by Bob Crowley and choreography by Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear.
Read the reviews of Mary Poppins, below.

Full casting has been announced for West End musical Mary Poppins, which resumes performances at London’s Prince Edward Theatre on 7 August 2021.
Joining the previously announced Zizi Strallen as Mary Poppins and Charlie Stemp as Bert are Charlie Anson as George Banks, Amy Griffiths as Winifred Banks, Petula Clark as Bird Woman, Liz Robertson as Miss Andrew, Claire Machin as Mrs Brill, Jack North as Robertson Ay and Paul F. Monaghan as Admiral Boom and Bank Chairman.
Katie Cox, Rose Dawson, Megan Donovan, Megan Judge, Ellie Kit Jones and Maddison Thew will alternate the role of Jane Banks with Logan Clark, George Hamblin, Charlie Irwin, Charlie Murphy, Frankie Treadaway and Fred Wilcox alternating the role of Michael Banks.
The ensemble comprises Yves Adang, Angeline Bell, Lydia Boulton, Alison Connell, Adam Davidson, Danielle Delys, Joseph Dockree, Charlie Donnelly, Stan Doughty, Glen Facey, Davide Fienauri, Harry Francis, Lyndsey Gardiner, Ian Gareth-Jones, Maria Garrett, Mark Goldthorp, Jacqueline Hughes, Emma Hunter, Jason Kajdi, Sam Lathwood, Jordan Livesey, Tania Mathurin, Laura Medforth, Alex Pinder, Ben Redfer
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular big budget stage adaptation of Mary Poppins originally opened in the West End in December 2004, running for over 1,250 performances. During this time, the production won two Olivier Awards and an Evening Standard Award. Subsequently the Tony Award®-winning Broadway production ran for over six years.

Mary Poppins is booking from 7 August 2021 until 13 February 2022 at the Prince Edward Theatre, London.
Tickets for Mary Poppins are now on sale.
Watch the trailer below

Mary Poppins flies into London’s West End this Summer – resuming performances at the Prince Edward Theatre on 7 August 2021. Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular big budget musical will be led by Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp, who reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and affable chimney sweep Bert.
Mary Poppins is based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the original Walt Disney film. The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. It first premiered in the West End 16 years ago. The show won Best Musical Revival at the 2020 Whatsonstage Awards and Best Set Design and Best Theatre Choreography at the 2020 Olivier Awards.

Cameron Mackintosh said: “The last year has been unbelievably hard for everyone but particularly so for the Theatre profession. I am therefore thrilled to announce that the world’s most beloved Nanny is now able to return to give us a Supercalifragilistic time from 7 August – now that the Prime Minister has told us that we are on track to reopen “cautiously but irreversibly” this summer.”
He added “Even if foreign travel is still a big question mark, Mary Poppins is the one Jolly Holiday you can book with certainty this summer! A huge welcome back to the theatre to my wonderful artists and our brilliantly supportive audiences.”
Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer Disney Theatrical Productions, said: “Theatre is a foundational human need that has roared back following every interruption for thousands of years. My friend Cameron Mackintosh and I believe that has never been truer than now. And that there is no better re-entry to theatre than Mary Poppins, a tale about the healing power of enchantment and a family made whole. What better time than now to spend an evening at 17 Cherry Tree Lane?”
Following a year of government mandated shutdown, plans for reopening the show are in accordance with the Government’s latest directives and therefore subject to change. Producers hope to obtain Government back contingency insurance to protect against further unscheduled closures.
Full casting for the production is to be revealed.
Mary Poppins is booking from 7 August 2021 until 13 February 2022 at the Prince Edward Theatre, London.
Tickets for Mary Poppins are now on sale.
Watch the trailer below

Cameron Mackintosh will not re-open his West End productions, including Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins and Hamilton, until 2021, he has confirmed.
The mega-producer and one of the most powerful people in UK theatre said continued uncertainty about social distancing requirements had forced him to delay his shows’ return in order to ensure that his company is able to survive the crisis.
Mackintosh said: “This decision is heartbreaking for me, as I am sure it is for my employees, as everyone who has worked with me over the last 50 years, on or off the stage, knows how much I care about what I do and how I do it.
“Despite the government engaging with the desperate pleas from everyone in the theatre industry, so far there has been no tangible practical support beyond offers to go into debt which I don’t want to do. Their inability to say when the impossible constraints of social distancing will be lifted makes it equally impossible for us to properly plan for whatever the new future is. This has forced me to take drastic steps to ensure that I have the resources for my business to survive and enable my shows and theatres to reopen next year when we are permitted to.”
Once social distancing is lifted, Mackintosh said his productions would need several months of preparation in order to be remounted, as well as time for audience confidence to be rebuilt.
Macktinosh added: “I have no investors or venture capital backing, everything is funded by me personally and already my companies’ considerable reserves have been massively reduced by the complete closure of our industry everywhere.”
“The commercial theatre provides billions of pounds of revenue to the economy. It is time this is recognised and the government takes action to ensure this priceless resource at which the British people excel is helped to survive. Without our theatres being ablaze with life, London cannot properly reopen as one of the world’s greatest cities.”
In light of the long-term closure of his theatres, Mackintosh companies, Cameron Mackintosh Limited and Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, have begun a consultation process for possible large scale redundancies.
It was also reported that Nimax Theatres, owners of six West End theatre’s including the Apollo and Palace Theatre, have also begun the consultation process with an expectation of making over 30% of staff redundant.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, who owns seven West End theatres including the London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane, has yet to announce any planned changes to when his theatres will reopen or if his companies have begun a redundancy consultation process.

New production images of ‘Mary Poppins’ have been released ahead of its opening this week at the Prince Edward Theatre in London.
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed stage adaptation of the iconic film features Zizi Strallen (Strictly Ballroom, Cats) in the title role as the world’s favourite nanny, Charlie Stemp (Hello, Dolly!, Half A Sixpence) as jack of all trades, Bert, Joseph Millson (Love Never Dies, Peak Practice) as George Banks, Petula Clark as the Bird Woman, Amy Griffiths as Winifred Banks, Claire Moore as Miss Andrew, Claire Machin as Mrs Brill, Jack North as Robertson Ay and Barry James as Bank Chairman and Admiral Boom.
The show returns to the West End in the first major revival since premiering at the Prince Edward Theatre in 2004 where it ran for three years clocking up over 1,250 performances and winning two Olivier Awards and an Evening Standard Award.
The creative team includes book by Julian Fellowes, direction by Richard Eyre, co-direction and Choreography by Matthew Bourne, with Co-choreography by Stephen Mear and design by seven-time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley.
Mary Poppins is booking until 29 March 2020 at the Prince Edward Theatre, London.
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Photos by: Johan Persson