Tragedy! Stars desert Sir Ian McKellen's Hamlet and Covid-hit Cinderella axes shows 

The theatre’s run of bad luck doesn’t look like it’s ending any time soon.

Two highly anticipated new shows have hit trouble just before the lifting of restrictions.

Tomorrow’s world premiere of Cinderella, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical, is under threat after the maestro was forced to suspend this weekend’s matinee and evening performances due to ‘Covid-related precautionary measures’.

Sir Ian McKellen’s production of Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor has suddenly lost two of its stars after a major falling out between the pair

The announcement was made less than an hour before Saturday’s matinee performance at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre. Meanwhile Sir Ian McKellen’s production of Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor has suddenly lost two of its stars after a major falling out between the pair.

Steven Berkoff, who was to play the king’s pompous adviser Polonius, and rising star Emmanuella Cole, who was to appear as his hot-headed son Laertes, have both pulled out ahead of press night tomorrow.

Miss Cole is said to have claimed that Berkoff ‘belittled and disrespected’ her during rehearsals of the gender- and age-blind production of the play. Berkoff has denied any wrongdoing or improper behaviour.

Kenneth Branagh’s production of The Browning Version has also been cancelled due to ‘Covid-enforced absences’.

Tomorrow’s world premiere of Cinderella, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical, is under threat after the maestro was forced to suspend this weekend’s matinee and evening performances due to ‘Covid-related precautionary measures’