I never understood the Andrew Lloyd Webber hate

['Fiona Mountford', 'Chief Theatre Critic', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', 'Sourceurl Https', 'Inews.Co.Uk Wp-Content Plugins Co-Authors-Plus Build Blocks Block-Coauthors Style-Index.Css', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img'] The i Paper 2026-08-07 14:48:37

close Cancel email WhatsApp link share Share bookmark SaveI never understood the sneering and downright opprobrium that was so often directed at the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber by theatre lovers keen to display a wearisome sense of superiority. Yet, as a glorious new production of Cats stretches its mighty paws at the Open Air Theatre, even the naysayers will have to admit it: Andrew Lloyd Webber is cool again. Lloyd was also behind the startling 2023 revival of Sunset Boulevard, featuring an ethereal, black-clad Nicole Scherzinger. Let the naysayers mumble away in corners if they will; their voices will be ever more muted now that Andrew Lloyd Webber is back in fashion. ‘Cats’ is playing at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 19 September (openairtheatre.com)