Coronation Street star's musical cancelled just hours before show - and fans are furious
A Coronation Street star's new musical was called off "with immediate effect" just hours before a show kicked off, leaving fans furious.
Former Coronation Street fave Catherine Tyldesley, who played Eva Price in the ITV soap for seven years, had been expected to star in a new musical version of Bonnie and Clyde - but it wasn't to be. Fans were left openmouthed - but, according to reports by Mail Online, despite five star reviews and standing ovations, poor ticket sales had made the show "financially unviable".
Catherine had already begun her run as gangster Blanche Barrow, only for the show to be unexpectedly pulled just hours before she was due to take to the stage in Southend. The show, which began in April, had been billed to continue touring until October, but the latest announcement threw followers into confusion.
A statement released by the production team on Twitter read: "Bonnie & Clyde The Musical will conclude its UK & Ireland tour with immediate effect. We would like to thank the extremely hard-working and endlessly talented cast and company that have entertained thousands of audience members across the country with this production."
They added that "ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase shortly with further information". However, that didn't cut it for some fans, who'd travelled hundreds of miles on the train to see their soap idol take to the stage in a new format.
The team was branded "disgraceful" - especially by those who'd already set off for Tuesday's show at Southend's Cliffs Pavillion before discovering the bad news. One took to Twitter to write: "A disgraceful decision to do this half way through a tour and just hours before a show in which people have travelled for.
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"Just play out the rest of the shows, pay your talented cast and call it a loss then. Your producers shouldn't be allowed to lead any show or tour again!"
Another fan blasted: "Well done to your producers for ruining a great show with a cult following that'll now be lost."
They continued: "You used the word 'conclude' when you should be using 'cancelled'. A disgraceful decision just a few hours before a run of shows in Southend which people have already travelled to!"
Others stated that they were "shocked" and "disappointed" by the news, describing the show as unjustly "underrated".
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Mail Online reported that representatives for the musical had told the publication: "Bonnie & Clyde The Musical will conclude its UK & Ireland tour with immediate effect.
"The whatsonstage award winning musical for Best New Musical began its tour at Leicester Curve in February and has received a range of 5 stars reviews and standing ovations at venues across the country.
"Unfortunately, it has been concluded that due to disappointing ticket sales it is no longer financially viable to continue with the tour.
"We would like to thank the extremely hard working and endlessly talented cast and company that have entertained thousands of audience members across the country with this production."