LONDON: Musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber on Monday cancelled the opening of his new London production of "Cinderella" and said he had no idea when it would go ahead, blaming "impossible conditions" imposed by the British government.
Lloyd Webber said one person in the cast had tested positive for coronavirus, but the rules around quarantine and isolation for the remainder of the actors - all testing negative - meant the show could not open as planned on Tuesday.
"I have been forced to take the heart-breaking decision not to open my 'Cinderella'," Lloyd Webber said in a statement.
"The impossible conditions created by the blunt instrument that is the government's isolation guidance mean that we cannot continue," he added.
The modern twist on "Cinderella" was a high-profile new musical following the closure of theatres for almost 18 months because of the pandemic.
Lloyd Webber said he had no idea when "Cinderella" might go ahead. "I can't answer," the composer told journalists. "We will open here, but who knows? 2084?"
Lloyd Webber, the creator of hit shows including "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera," is one of the most influential and successful figures in the theatre world and had been a key voice urging support for theatre during the pandemic.
With music by Lloyd Webber and a story by Oscar-winning screenwriter Emerald Fennell, "Cinderella" had already suffered several delays due to changing restrictions ordered by the British government around quarantine, social distancing, and capacity in indoor entertainment venues.
"Theatre is now on its knees," Lloyd Webber said. "We can't isolate every time somebody may or may not have it."
The government on Monday ended over a year of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in England but the so-called Freedom Day was marred by surging infections, warnings of supermarket shortages and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's own forced self-isolation.
"Freedom Day has turned into closure day," Lloyd Webber said in his statement.
Reuters
Tue Jul 20 2021
!['Cinderella' musical in London won't open due to COVID rules 'Cinderella' musical in London won't open due to COVID rules](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61626753079_LONDON.jpg)
Lloyd Webber said one person in the cast had tested positive for coronavirus, but the rules around quarantine and isolation for the remainder of the actors, meant the show could not open as planned on Tuesday. - REUTERS
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
Lebih 340,000 syarikat buat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial
Sebanyak 340,637 syarikat telah membuat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial (beneficial ownership) bagi tempoh 1 April hingga 14 Julai lepas.
Polis tunggu laporan makmal tentukan punca kematian Nur Farah Kartini
Polis sedang menunggu laporan makmal bagi menentukan punca kematian berhubung kes pembunuhan bekas penuntut Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah.
![EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721013896_LukeShaw.jpg)
EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw tidak pernah berada dalam kesebelasan utama sejak saingan kumpulan akibat dari kecederaan yang dialaminya di Manchester United.
![Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720996121_EUROSpainCh.jpg)
Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan
Kemenangan itu menjadi kejuaraan Eropah keempat buat La Roja manakala England terus kempunan tewas dalam dua perlawanan akhir berturut-turut.
![EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720931139_HarryKane.jpg)
EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England
HARRY Kane mengakui dia sedia 'tinggalkan segala pencapaian yang diperoleh sepanjang kerjaya' untuk memenangi Euro 2024 bersama England, apabila bakal bertemu Sepanyol awal pagi esok.
![EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720931720_GarethSouthgate.jpg)
EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak
GARETH Southgate percaya England perlu memenangi Euro 2024 jika mereka ingin mendapat pengiktirafan dunia bola sepak.
![EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720658510_tbOllieWatkinsEng.jpg)
EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final
Perlawanan separuh masa pertama menyaksikan England dan Belanda terikat 1-1 hasil jaringan 'roket' Xavi Simons dan Harry Kane.
![EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain' EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720502654_HarryKane.jpg)
EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain'
PEMAIN England memberikan sokongan kepada kapten mereka, Harry Kane yang berada dalam tekanan selepas persembahan hambar dalam kejohanan Euro kali ini.
![EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720308967_Euro.jpg)
EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir
Switzerland terpaksa akur selepas tewas 5-3 kepada England melalui sepakan penentuan penalti dalam perlawanan suku akhir.
![EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71719783357_JudeBellingham.jpg)
EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir
Separuh masa pertama menyaksikan England mendominasi aksi tetapi sukar menembusi benteng pertahanan Slovakia yang lebih berdisiplin.
![EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719460809_EnglandBelanda.jpg)
EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary
England akan bertemu Slovakia dan Belanda akan menghadapi Romania dalam pusingan 16 EURO 2024 selepas Hungary tersingkir.
![EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719363645_England.jpg)
EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar
Walaupun seri, England melangkah ke pusingan 16 selaku juara kumpulan selepas Denmark dan Serbia juga seri tanpa jaringan dalam satu lagi perlawanan.