UPDATES: See all current photos and videos of EVITA at the London Palladium >
More details are emerging about Jamie Lloyd’s new production of EVITA at the London Palladium.
Whilst this is Lloyd’s second time directing Evita (he also directed a 2019 production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), this time it feels very different.
Evita comes on the back of the extraordinary success of Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger. Not always a mega commercial success, the show has proved an awards darling (at least in the UK, winning seven Olivier Awards, its Tony Awards fate decided this Sunday), and a critical behemoth (London reviews were incredible, and New York equally impressive).
But just as important, possibly more so, the production has managed to change something in the way we think about musicals; and certainly in the way we think about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals.
So the pressure is on with Evita, riding on the coattails of Sunset. One thing we do know about Jamie Lloyd: he thrives on that kind of pressure, and on the challenge of defying expectations.
Which is why videos on social media this week of Rachel Zegler performing ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ on the outside balcony of the London Palladium, in front of a small crowd, feel like a right old red herring!
Rachel Zegler performed as Eva Peron dressed in traditional ‘Evita balcony scene’ costume, sounding incredible, but also channelling Elaine Paige circa 1978. In now-typical Jamie Lloyd style she was being filmed.
Video: Watch Rachel Zegler sing ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ on the balcony of the London Palladium
All of this feels counter to an interview that Jamie Lloyd gave Deadline this week (US entertainment industry news sites – mainly Variety and Deadline, are very much part of Lloyd’s and Lloyd Webber’s US assault, and a push into film).
When asked by Deadline whether Evita will be like Sunset Boulevard, the director gave a firm no, saying: “it’s radically different from Sunset Blvd. I’m looking at the stage now as we speak, looking at the Palladium stage, and it’s kind of got the energy of a rock gig. It’s almost like Eva Perón does Coachella. You know, it’s got a kind of real energy.”
Tantalisingly, Lloyd also says that, “I’ve got a few surprises up my sleeve that people will discover from the first preview”, and gives a few clues as to what we might expect: “If you think of Evita, you know, you leap from one song to the next, almost like a concert, and you can kind of jump-cut, almost, cinematically from one to the next. You know, one minute, you’re in Junín in Argentina, and the very next moment, you’re in Buenos Aires. So it’s kind of like allowing it to feel like a fever dream, allowing it to feel like a gig, and to be really, really kind of explosive.”
Whatever happens, Jamie Lloyd is on a roll, and if lightning does strike twice with Evita, then Lloyd will officially wear the crown as the world’s hottest stage director.
Photos: Evita in rehearsals
Check out more photos and videos of EVITA in London
More about Evita
Evita is running at the London Palladium from next week, 14 June, booking until 6 September 2025.
The show stars Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler (West Side Story, Snow White) as Eva Perón, and Diego Andres Rodriguez (Sunset Boulevard), who will make his West End debut as Che, with James Olivas (American Idiot) as Juan Perón, Aaron Lee Lambert (Hamilton) as Agustín Magaldi and Bella Brown (Hadestown) as The Mistress / Alternate Eva.
The Ensemble of Evita includes Carl Au, Gabriela Benedetti, Shakara Brown, Damian Buhagiar, Kyeirah D’Marni, Sally Frith, DeAngelo Jones, Lucas Koch, Natasha Leaver, Michael Lin, Dianté Lodge, Louis Mackrodt, Mireia Mambo, Mia Mullarkey, Perry O’Dea, Alysha Sontae, Monica Swayne, Jon Tsouras and Harrison Wilde, with Myla Carmen, Barney Hudson, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Ricardo Spriggs and Regan Bailey Walker as Swings. Auora Breslin, Lois Haidar, Siena Merilind-Wu and Ffion Rosalie Williams share the role of The Child.
Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (book and lyrics), Evita’s creative team also includes Choreography by Fabian Aloise, Set and Costume Design by Soutra Gilmour, Music Supervision and Musical Direction by Alan Williams, Lighting Design by Jon Clark, Sound Design by Adam Fisher, Casting by Will Burton CDG, US Casting by Jim Carnahan, Wigs, Hair and Make-up Design by Carole Hancock, Children’s Casting/Children’s Administration by Harry Blumenau, Fight Direction by Kate Waters, Props Supervision by Lily Mollgaard, Intimacy Coordination by Ingrid Mackinnon, Associate Direction by Rupert Hands, Associate Choreography by Amy Thornton, Resident Direction by Cory Hippolyte, Resident Choreography by Paris Green, Associate Set Design by Rachel Wingate, Associate Sound Design by Kelsh B-D, Associate Lighting Design by Lucía Sánchez Roldán, Costume Supervision by Rachel Woodhouse, Assistant Sound Design by Harry Barker, and Orchestral Management by Andy Barnwell and Rich Weedon for BW Musicians.
Book tickets to Evita
Evita is playing at the London Palladium from 14 June to 6 September 2025.
Book tickets to EVITA at the London Palladium
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