Starlight Express Lyrics – All Songs from the Musical

The author is Andrew Lloyd Webber. Adaptation has been provided by D. Yazbek & A. L. Webber. Lyrics have been created by R. Stilgoe, D. Black, D. Yazbek & N. Coler. As the basis of the idea, the director and screenwriter T. Nunn, together with Webber, took Cinderella’s story and rehashed it in a new way. Such an unusual project saw the light in the spring of 1984 in London's Apollo Victoria Theatre. This was one of the most successful musicals in the West End – it survived almost 7500 performances. The show ended in January 2002. The performance had this cast: F. Ruffelle, S. Lawrence, J. Daniel, J. Shankley & R. Shell. Production on Broadway, which opened at the Gershwin Theatre, was not as successful as the British one. From March 1987 to January 1989, there were 761 presentations until closure.
The German interpretation of the play happened in June 1988. Especially for it, in less than a year was built Starlighthalle theater in Bochum was built, where the play lives till today. By March 2012, it was viewed by more than 13 million people in Germany. The show includes these actors: L. George, K. Köhler, J. E. Estrada, A. Dever & U. Kröger amongst others. There is a version of this performance called ‘Feld Entertainment’, where the whole action takes place on the ice. However, the ice skating show has not met the expectations of its creators, turning unprofitable. In 1992, the London version of the musical introduced changes: it received the name ‘New Starlight Express’. Numerous tours in New Zealand, Japan, Australia, the USA, the UK, and other parts of Europe confirmed the keen interest of the audience in this show. The Broadway version has received two awards from the Drama Desk & 1 Tony. Also, it has been nominated for the Theatre World Award. London production was nominated for the Laurence Olivier.

Production History Update: Starlight Express.

Article type: Production history and update.

London return, 2024 to 2026.

The show roared back at Wembley Park in 2024.

The venue was refit as the Starlight Auditorium.

Direction is by Luke Sheppard, with turbo pacing.

Arlene Phillips returns as creative dramaturg, tightening storytelling.

Choreography now comes from Ashley Nottingham, crisp and athletic.

Design is maximalist, neon, and aerodynamic.

Tim Hatley’s set hugs the audience, thrillingly close.

Gabriella Slade’s costumes gleam like chrome and midnight.

Lighting by Howard Hudson turns corners into comets.

Gareth Owen’s sound makes wheels purr and thunder.

Andrzej Goulding’s video wraps races in liquid color.

New orchestrations by Matthew Brind supercharge the score.

It features a 40-strong cast, constantly in motion.

Run dates and extensions.

Previews began 8 June 2024 in London.

Opening night followed on 30 June 2024.

Bookings are now extended until 1 March 2026.

Olivier recognition, 2025.

The revival won the 2025 Olivier for Best Costume Design.

Designer Gabriella Slade accepted the award with fanfare.

It also scored nominations in lighting and revival categories.

Cast recordings and the Deluxe Edition.

A fresh London cast album dropped in November 2024.

It was recorded at Air Edel, tight and shiny.

The Deluxe Edition followed in May 2025.

Eight remixes arrived alongside the 2024 recording.

Hudson Mohawke reworked “The Race”, deliciously aggressive.

Bochum, the ironclad stronghold.

Bochum’s production still runs in its custom theatre.

It welcomed its 18 millionth visitor in 2022.

The show holds a Guinness site-specific attendance record.

In 2018, revisions introduced a mother figure, not Poppa.

Reva Rice led that shift with powerhouse warmth.

Further updates marked the 30th anniversary that year.

Music and story polish deepened character stakes.

Awards, Broadway chapter.

The Broadway run earned seven Tony nominations in 1987.

John Napier won the Tony for costume design.

Drama Desk honors recognized set and costumes as well.

The tally underscored its technical bravura.

Audience scale and cultural footprint.

The show has surpassed 30 million viewers worldwide.

That number keeps rising with Wembley momentum.

Key 2024 to 2026 highlights.

• Immersive trackwork returns, tighter and faster.
• Revamped orchestrations, brighter brass, punchier percussion.
• Cast size expanded, movement patterns densify.
• Costumes modernized, but silhouettes honor tradition.
• Sound design clarifies vocals during sprints.

Snapshot timeline.

Production	Location	Dates	Notes
London revival	Wembley Park	June 2024 to March 2026	New creative team, Olivier win.
Bochum resident	Germany	1988 to present	2018 revisions, record attendance.
Broadway original	Gershwin Theatre	1987 to 1989	761 performances, multiple awards.

SEO meta description.

Starlight Express returns to London with high-speed staging, award-winning design, and fresh recordings.

This update covers dates, awards, cast album news, and Bochum milestones.

Targeted keywords.

• Starlight Express London revival
• Andrew Lloyd Webber musical
• Wembley Park Theatre production
• Olivier Awards 2025 winner
• Bochum Starlight Express theatre
• West End musical revivals
• Gabriella Slade costumes
• Luke Sheppard director

What changed on stage.

Character relationships feel cleaner, less tangled.

Transitions glide, avoiding narrative pileups.

Chase sequences pop with visual clarity.

The romance breathes, then bursts like sparks.

Humor lands sharper, skates still scorch.

Questions and Answers.

What defines the 2024 London revival?

Immersive trackwork, new orchestrations, and award-winning costumes define it.

How long is the Wembley run booked?

Bookings currently run through 1 March 2026.

Did the revival win any major awards?

Yes, it won the 2025 Olivier for Best Costume Design.

Is there a new cast recording available?

Yes, a 2024 album and a 2025 Deluxe Edition exist.

Why is Bochum still special?

It remains the longest-running resident production, with landmark attendance.

Album metadata.

Structured data for the current recording, ready for search engines.