Andrew Lloyd Webber's new Mona Lisa musical to open in autumn 2027

The globally celebrated composer, who recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Phantom of the Opera in the West End, told The Independent that he was inspired by an article he read in The Ties, which explored how the Mona Lisa only became famous after it was stolen (mistakenly!) by an Italian workman who originally set out to reclaim Italian artwork that had been looted by Napoleon Bonaparte. Prior to the theft, the painting was hung in a poorly viewed location in the Louvre and considered a subpar piece of art by scholars. The media fallout after its theft secured the Mona Lisa's place as one of the most famous paintings in history.

The musical's score, according to Lloyd Webber, contains a mix of Italian arias and Parisian harmonies. He also teased that Mona Lisa herself plays an active role in the show, at one point literally climbing out of her frame. "Mona, I have to say, has quite a lot to say about life. She’s not a blushing flower," he said.

Lloyd Webber hopes that this new musical will be "fully open" in London "by this time next year". Watch this space for more details about dates, venue, casting, and creative team as they're revealed.