Based on Billy Wilder’s 1950 film of the same name, Sunset Boulevard centres on faded movie star Norma Desmond, who lives in a house on the famous Los Angeles street of the title. When fate brings young screenwriter Joe to her door, Norma sees her chance to make a comeback to the big screen.

In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess, Norma Desmond, lives in a fantasy world.

Impoverished screen writer, Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, stumbles into her reclusive world. Persuaded to work on Norma’s ‘masterpiece’, a film script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras, he is seduced by her and her luxurious lifestyle. Joe becomes entrapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free with dramatic consequences.

With music by Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, the original production opened at the Adelphi theatre in 1993 with Patti LuPone in the role of Norma. The show was revised after a year and continued to run until 1997. Both the show and its leading lady were nominated for Laurence Olivier Awards in 1994.