1981 - 1990 - History

1981

Elaine Paige as Grizabella in Cats, London

Waynes Sleep as Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats, London

CATS

opened at The New London Theatre, London, on 11 May, 1981. It closed 21 years later to the day, after 8950 performances

1982

SONG & DANCE

(consisting of Tell Me On A Sunday and Variations) opened at the Palace Theatre, London, on 7 April 1982 and closed on 31 March 1984

Marti Webb in Tell Me On A Sunday, Song & Dance, London

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh in rehearsals

1983

Elaine Paige as Carabosse in Abbacadabra

Cast list from the programme of Abbacadabra - Cast List

BLONDEL

originally opened at the Old Vic Theatre, London on 9 November 1983, following a short UK Tour. It transferred to the Aldwych Theatre from 21 January - 22 September 1984, playing 278 performances there

1984

THE BOYFRIEND

The Boyfriend began life on a UK Tour before coming in to London to the Old Vic (18 July - 18 August 1984) After a short trip to the Palace Theatre, Manchester, it then played the Albery Theatre, London from 20 September 1984 - 2 February 1985

The company perform 'Sur La Plage' in The Boyfriend, Old Vic, London

Simon Green as Tony and Jane Wellman as Polly in The Boyfriend

1985

LES MISÉRABLES

opened at The Barbican Theatre, London, on the 8 October, 1985 before transferring to the Palace Theatre, London on 4 December 1985, then to The Queen's Theatre on 15 April 2004, where it is still running.

Les Misérables at The Palace Theatre, London

The company perform 'One Day More', Les Misérables, London

Michael Ball as Marius, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, David Burt as Enjolras, in Les Misérables, London

Female company perform 'Lovely Ladies', Les Misérables, London

Flyer for Les Misérables at The Barbican, London

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg outside The Barbican

Alun Armstrong and Susan Jane Tanner as The Thénardiers in 'Master Of The House', Les Misérables, London

Michael Ball as Marius and Rebecca Caine as Cosette in Les Misérables, London

Frances Ruffelle as Eponine in Les Misérables, London

1986

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, on 9 October, 1986.

Album cover for the Original London Cast recording

Michael Crawford as The Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, London

Michael Crawford as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, London

1987

FOLLIES

opened at The Shaftesbury Theatre, London, on 21 July, 1987 and played 644 performances, closing on 4 February 1989

Daniel Massey as Ben Stone in Follies, London

Julia McKenzie as Sally Plummer in Follies, London

1989

MISS SAIGON

opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on 20 September 1989. When it closed on 30 October 1999, after 4264 performances, it was the longest running show in the theatre's history

Lea Salonga as Kim and Jonathan Pryce as The Engineer in Miss Saigon, London

The company, 'The Morning of the Dragon', Miss Saigon, London

Miss Saigon closed on the 30 October, 1999, after more than 10 years and over 4000 performances

Lea Salonga as Kim and David Platt as Tam in Miss Saigon, London

Claire Moore as Ellen and Lea Salonga as Kim in Miss Saigon, London

Lea Salonga as Kim and Simon Bowman as Chris in Miss Saigon, London

1990

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE

played the Lyric Theatre, London for 1717 performances, from 17 December 1990 - 4 March 1995. It then transferred to the Albery Theatre, London for another 286 performances (plus 8 previews) from 25 May 1995 - 13 January 1996

Clarke Peters (Four Eyed Moe), Peter Alex Newton (No Moe), Paul J. Medford (Little Moe), Omar Okai (Eat Moe) and Kenny Andrews (Big Moe) Five Guys Named Moe

Faruma Williams (No Moe), Tee Jaye Jenkins (Four Eyed Moe), Richard D. Sharp (Big Moe), Trent Kendall (Eat Moe) and Jason Pennycooke (Little Moe) with Monroe Kent III (Nomax) - 1995 - Five Guys Named Moe at the Albery Theatre, London

Five Guys Named Moe moved to the Albery Theatre (now renamed The Noël Coward Theatre) in May 1995

Dig Wayne (Nomax) and Clarke Peters (Four Eyed Moe) in Five Guys Named Moe, London

1991 - 2000