Our major revival of the classic musical Anything Goes opened to a sold-out crowd at London’s Barbican Theatre on 23 July, 16 months after the pandemic forced theatres to close.

The production, which stars Sutton Foster, Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal, and Gary Wilmot, was the first big new show to open without social distancing in place, with the 1,200 capacity theatre completely sold out during its run.

Delighted to see the theatre finally make its comeback amid the pandemic, the audience stopped the show three times to give standing ovations to the stars, and they were said to have ‘gone wild’ when Sutton first appeared.

In a press statement, Howard said: “We need people to know that West End theatre is very much open and the opening performance of Anything Goes at the Barbican demonstrated that in a major way. 

“The show was a complete sell-out and the 1200 strong audience went wild from the moment our leading lady, the Broadway superstar Sutton Foster, stepped onto the stage. This was followed by three showing-stopping standing ovations throughout the evening.

“There have been so many challenges for theatres all over the country, but this evening just underlined the important fact that going out to live theatre is what so many people want – it’s part of what makes our country great. 

“And Anything Goes is just the kind of feel-good musical that people need after the last 18 months or so – it’s the perfect tonic to lift people’s spirits.”