In an interview with The Telegraph, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed that he had completed his next "big" musical.
Webber previously said he is writing songs for a play about Sherlock Holmes with Tim Rice. However, Webber has not revealed the title and the plot of the musical he was referencing at this time.
According to the Broadway World, Webber co-wrote the song 'Hydrogen' with Richard Stilgoe for 'Starlight Express,' which debuted in previews at the Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on Saturday, June 8.
"The show could be a museum piece, but I thought we can't be saying that dirty [coal-powered] old steam trains are wonderful. There has been a lot of investment in hydrogen energy, and it occurred to me that instead of being nostalgic, we could have a show which suggests steam [courtesy of hydrogen] is the future," Webber said.
Director Luke Sheppard has shared further details about the production. He said that a child will play control instead of a voice-over.
He explained that all the cast will be wearing microchips on their shoulders, which means the sound system knows at any point where they are in space. "If someone comes past you singing, it will track that in the speakers. The same goes for the lighting. That's not been done on this scale before," he added.
'Starlight Express,' which is about to have a comeback, is a story of a girl who overcomes great obstacles, reminiscent of 'Cinderella' and the renowned 'Railway Series' by the Rev. W. Awdry.
A fearless small steam engine named Rusty competes with the arrogant diesel Greaseball and the sultry electric diva Elettra for Pearl, an observation car. He is advised to find courage in the mysterious 'Starlight Express.'
