A glittering array of West End stars were out in force last night to celebrate the First Night of Cameron Mackintosh’s lavish new Sondheim tribute revue Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at the Gielgud Theatre in London.

This celebration of the work of lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim was first put together as a one-off tribute concert in 2022, and now has been fully staged by Cameron Mackintosh, with direction and musical staging by Matthew Bourne, alongside Sondheim veteran Julia McKenzie.

Reviews are coming in for Old Friends, with largely positive notices including five stars from the often hard-to-please Clive Davis.

A fabulous cast includes Broadway legend Bernadette Peters, West End and Broadway superstar Lea Salonga, plus Christine Allado, Clare Burt, Janie Dee, Damian Humbley, Bradley Jaden, Bonnie Langford, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Jac Yarrow, Marley Fenton and Beatrice Penny-Touré; and the company also includes Harry Apps, Bella Brown, Richard Dempsey and Monique Young, completing a cast that is truly the best of the West End and Broadway.

The show’s creative team also includes Choreography is by Stephen Mear, the show is conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo, musical supervision is by Stephen Brooker, musical arrangements by Stephen Metcalfe, set design by Matt Kinley, projection design by George Reeve, costume design by Jill Parker, lighting design by Warren Letton and sound design is by Mick Potter.

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends is now playing at the Gielgud Theatre to 6 January 2024.

Book tickets to Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at the Gielgud Theatre in London

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends – First Night Photos

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Main photo: STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS Press Night. Alfonso Casado Trigo, Bernadette Peters, Cameron Mackintosh and Lea Salonga. Photo Craig Sugden

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