Don Black, who wrote the lyrics for Bombay Dreams, currently pulling in the crowds at the Apollo Victoria, is to have a second musical in the West End come November, when Romeo and Juliet — the Musical opens at the Piccadilly Theatre in November.

With music by Gerard Presgurvic but with English language lyrics by Don Black, the doyen of British lyricists, the musical is expected to do well, given its huge success in France, where it opened in 2001.

There is, however, a mixed history of West End reception of French musicals: Les Misérables is still packing them in at the Palace, but Napoleon met its Waterloo at the Shaftesbury, and for much of the 1990's the Piccadilly had a rough reputation for musicals: Moby Dick, which was actually great fun, sank to a watery grave there.

More details regarding casting, preview and opening dates will be announced nearer the time.

—By Theatrenow