Michael Grandage will direct, with Christopher Oram designing and Rob Ashford choreographing. That’s the same trio who are behind the current West End Guys and Dolls, a production noted for its gritty edge, a quality which is even more present in Evita. However, unlike the Guys and Dolls, the Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical will not be a Donmar Warehouse show. Although Cameron Mackintosh was at one time attached, it will now be produced by the composer’s own Really Useful Group. Auditions are currently being held in London.

Grandage took over from Sam Mendes as artistic director of the Donmar and until recently ran Sheffield Theatres. As well as producing Guys and Dolls in the West End, he has seen a number of his productions transfer recently, including Suddenly Last Summer and Don Carlos. Oram in particular is a regular collaborator. Their Evita will be the show’s first West End outing since the 1978 original, which starred Elaine Paige, Joss Ackland and David Essex.