Stage craft

It was a lucky escape. A £10m Lord of the Rings musical planned for London's West End has been scrapped because British producers were unable to find a big enough theatre in which to stage it. It will receive its world premiere in Toronto next spring instead.

It was a lucky escape. A £10m Lord of the Rings musical planned for London's West End has been scrapped because British producers were unable to find a big enough theatre in which to stage it. It will receive its world premiere in Toronto next spring instead.

Canada's loss should be our gain. With The Lord of the Rings juggernaut out of town, there should be more room - creatively and physically - for fresh productions and innovative playwrights. More cynical adaptations seeking to cash in on the success of Hollywood movies are the last thing our capital's theatre scene needs.