{"id":342002,"date":"2025-08-13T20:05:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T20:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/342002\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T20:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T20:05:10","slug":"andrew-lloyd-webbers-really-useful-group-rebrands-as-lw-entertainment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/342002\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s Really Useful Group rebrands as LW Entertainment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andrew Lloyd Webber<\/strong> is letting go of his The Really Useful Group<\/strong> brand after nearly 50 years.<\/p>\n

Set up by Lloyd Webber in 1977 to manage his musicals, including rights and productions, the name \u2013 and its Swiss Army knife logo, became synonymous with the musicals boom of the 1980s and 90s, and Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s global export of musicals.<\/p>\n

Lloyd Webber floated the company in 1986, but took it private again four years later.<\/p>\n

The Really Useful Group will be rebranded to LW Entertainment<\/strong>, in line with Lloyd Webber\u2019s LW Theatres<\/a> London theatre business, and recently launched LW Tickets.<\/p>\n

As with Really Useful, LW Entertainment will continue to manage Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s body of work, including merchandising and franchising his musical brands including The Phantom of the Opera<\/a>, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar<\/a>, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat<\/a>, Evita<\/a>, Sunset Boulevard<\/a> and Starlight Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The company is led by CEO James McKnight, who joined the business in December 2023<\/a> after a number of high-profile roles, including at the Harry Potter franchise at the Blair Partnership.<\/p>\n

McKnight has made a number of hires over the last 18 months including Louise Hughes, Chief Operating Officer<\/a> and General Counsel; Lawrence Chapman, Group Chief Financial Officer; Libby Grant as Chief Commercial Officer<\/a>; and Alex Parker\u00a0as Musical Director.<\/p>\n

Recent LW Entertainment activity includes relaunching AndrewLloydWebber.com, starting free fan hub The Box Five Club, and licensing The Phantom of the Opera as a new immersive production Masquerade in New York<\/a>, produced by Randy Weiner and directed by Diane Paulus.<\/p>\n

Also, a new Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat film is in the works, directed by Jon M. Chu<\/a> (Wicked) for Amazon, and there are persistent rumours about a movie version of Sunset Boulevard.<\/p>\n

Other recent and current productions of Lloyd Webber shows include Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl<\/a> starring Cynthia Erivo as Jesus. A company statement said that the success of this production is \u201cprompting calls for an arena tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alongside Really Useful Group, Andrew Lloyd Webber also owns West End theatre chain\u00a0LW Theatres<\/a>, which runs the London Palladium, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Cambridge, His Majesty\u2019s, Gillian Lynne and Adelphi Theatres.<\/p>\n

Michael Harrison continues to lead on production<\/p>\n

LW Entertainment will be focused on exploitation, but production will rest with Michael Harrison for Harrison and Lloyd Webber\u2019s joint venture company, Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, which started in 2023<\/a>. Recent successes for the company include Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard, and current West End blockbuster, Evita<\/a> at The London Palladium starring Rachel Zegler<\/a> and directed by Jamie Lloyd.<\/p>\n

Next up for the production arm will be the Broadway transfer of Cats: The Jellicle Ball<\/a> and Lloyd Webber\u2019s new musical, The Illusionist<\/a>, directed by Jamie Lloyd.<\/p>\n

The Phantom of the Opera expansion<\/p>\n

Lloyd Webber\u2019s acclaimed, long-running production of The Phantom of the Opera<\/a>, continues to do great business in London, produced by Cameron Mackintosh. The show will enter its 40th year in November, and celebrate its 40th birthday next year.<\/p>\n

Phantom will also start a major new US tour in November 2025, co-presented with The Really Useful Group \/ LW Entertainment.<\/p>\n

Other new partnerships include The Phantom of the Opera expanding with a new book partnership with Penguin Random House LLC. In autumn 2026, new adult novel Our Strange Duet<\/strong> will debut, bringing a new voice to Victor Hugo\u2019s heroine Christine Daa\u00e9, developed with author Erin A. Craig.<\/p>\n

Recent Phantom extensions have included associations with Studio MinaLima and Palace Skateboards.<\/p>\n

LW invests in GWB Entertainment for tours<\/p>\n

In other news today, LW Entertainment has made a strategic equity investment in UK-based producer and general manager GWB Entertainment, a long standing production partner in Asia including previous tours of Cats and School of Rock. GWB will also provide general management to The Phantom of the Opera International Tour.<\/p>\n

Paul Warwick Griffin and Gareth Hewitt Williams, GWB Founders UK, said in a statement: \u201cHaving collaborated closely with The Really Useful Group for many years, this partnership with LW Entertainment represents a pivotal milestone for us. We are thrilled to bring together our collective expertise and resources to create extraordinary experiences for audiences worldwide, while deepening our creative vision and broadening our global reach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qubic Pictures to explore Phantom anime<\/p>\n

LW Entertainment has also engaged Justin Leach of Qubic Pictures, Co-Executive Producer on Star Wars: Visions and Showrunner of Netflix\u2019s Eden and Leviathan, to explore opportunities for a new The Phantom of the Opera anime. Qubic Pictures, an animation production company, works with leading creators and studios across Japan, North America and Europe.<\/p>\n

Justin Leach, Founder, Qubic Pictures, said: \u201cI\u2019m incredibly excited to join forces with the talented team at LW Entertainment to bring The Phantom of the Opera to life through anime. This project is a rare opportunity to unite the grandeur of musical theatre with the artistry of Japanese animation \u2013 two beloved traditions that have touched audiences around the world. Our goal is to create a timeless and emotionally resonant experience that speaks to a global audience and honors the legacy of this iconic story.\u201c<\/p>\n

Consumer products<\/p>\n

LW Entertainment has also appointed brand licensing and merchandising agency Merchantwise for new global consumer products programmes in the UK, select European markets, China, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Also, Event Merchandising Ltd (EML) has been appointed to run owned and operated channels (online and physical) for Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals, with future plans for an ecommerce store for global fans.<\/p>\n

What They Said<\/p>\n

James McKnight, CEO of LW Entertainment, said in a statement: \u201cIt is a privilege to be part of the next chapter of the Lloyd Webber family business. For nearly 50 years, this company has worked with the best in the industry to deliver transformational entertainment. LW Entertainment is about doing more of the same. We want to spread our impact across the world, taking the magic of Andrew\u2019s work into more formats. I firmly believe that great business strategy is led by creativity, passion and partnership. Looking around us, I am not sure we could ask for much more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madeleine Lloyd Webber, Group President of LW Entertainment and LW Theatres, said: \u201c\u2019The heart and soul of the company is creativity and innovation\u2019 \u2013 a quote from Bob Iger which perfectly reflects LW Entertainment. This is a very exciting new chapter for our family business, while respecting and building upon RUG\u2019s extraordinary legacy. The Lloyd Webber family are aligned and share the vision of LW Entertainment: to create, entertain, excite, challenge, disrupt, and inspire audiences across many art forms for generations to come. The brilliant team led by James McKnight, ably supported by our chairman David Chance and the rest of our Board, have already delivered innovation, and I\u2019m excited and optimistic about the ambitious plans they have for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: \u201cI am thrilled that the final piece of the reorganisation of the Lloyd Webber companies is complete. Our CEO James McKnight, together with Madeleine Lloyd Webber and our chairman, David Chance, has restructured the entire senior management team to reflect the business\u2019 commitment to exploiting its copyrights in the most innovative way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lloyd Webber went on to say: \u201cLW Entertainment is a family company, and I am blessed that all four of my children are major contributors to the board. My wife, Madeleine Lloyd Webber, is Group President of LW Entertainment and LW Theatres. The recorded music exploitation, guided by Alastair and Billy Lloyd Webber, has already resulted in successful albums for Starlight Express and Sunset Boulevard, the latter reaching number 1. With the strongest team I could possibly hope for in place, I will focus on what I have always loved most \u2013 music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Book Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals in London<\/p>\n

Book tickets to The Phantom of the Opera<\/a> at His Majesty\u2019s Theatre in London<\/strong><\/p>\n

Book tickets to Evita<\/a> at the London Palladium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Book tickets to\u00a0Starlight Express<\/a> Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Phantom of the Opera<\/p>\n

His Majesty’s Theatre,\u00a0London<\/p>\n

Book tickets<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0Main photo: LW Entertainment launches, rebranding Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Group (Photo c LW Entertainment)<\/p>\n

Related News<\/p>\n

More ><\/p>\n

<\/a> Latest News<\/p>\n

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