Chariots of Fire runs out of steam and closes West End run early

James McArdle as Harold Abrahams, with Nicholas Woodeson as his controversial coach, in Chariots of Fire (Geraint Lewis)

Olympians may have dominated 2012, but it seems theatre-goers have had their fill of Britain’s sporting triumphs as the West End adaption of Chariots of Fire ends a month earlier than planned.

The show, based on the Oscar-winning 1981 film, opened at the Gielgud Theatre ahead of the London 2012 Games last June and was chalked up to close on 2 February.

But tomorrow night’s will be the last performance of the production based on Colin Welland’s screenplay at the Gielgud venue which has been specially converted into a race track for the run (no pun intended).

Producers said in a statement that by the time the play closes on 5 January the cast will have collectively run over 1,700km when they take their final victory lap.

It continued: "Having being applauded by audiences including Olympians past and present, the starting gun will have been fired over almost 3,000 times in the West End when show completes its run."

Plans are underway for a tour later this year and into 2014.