The longstanding creative partnership between composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice appears to have come to an abrupt end amid a dispute over the music for their recent joint project. The pair, renowned for their groundbreaking collaborations on hits such as *Jesus Christ Superstar*, *Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat*, and *Evita*, had reunited unexpectedly to work on *Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas*. The production premiered at Birmingham Repertory Theatre last year and was scheduled for a revival at Alexandra Palace in north London next month.
However, it has now emerged that Lloyd Webber has withdrawn his compositions from the upcoming revival, leading to a significant split between the collaborators. Tim Rice told reporters that Lloyd Webber “really did not want to continue with the show” and had effectively removed his score from the production. Rice indicated that the composer felt the project was not aligned with his current artistic priorities, citing Lloyd Webber’s focus on larger-scale productions.
Lloyd Webber, for his part, denied pulling the music unilaterally and attributed the decision to the producers, Donald and Eva Rice, children of Tim Rice. He stated that the producers chose not to use his music from the Birmingham production because the show required additional development, a commitment he could not accommodate due to scheduling constraints. Lloyd Webber also raised concerns about demands placed on him to waive rights to his music for five years and relinquish approval over its use, which he said was unacceptable given his lack of familiarity with the production team.
Tim Rice confirmed that he is now collaborating with composer Howard Goodall, whom he described as “wonderful to work with,” to rework the musical's score. When asked whether the new music surpassed Lloyd Webber’s contributions, Rice declined to comment. He acknowledged that Lloyd Webber felt the project was not a fitting undertaking and noted that the composer’s busy theatrical commitments influenced the decision not to proceed. Rice stated that while the partnership was important, they had mutually agreed it was not essential to continue with this particular production and that they would “start again.”
The history between Lloyd Webber and Rice dates back to the early 1970s, with *Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat* premiering at the 1972 Edinburgh International Festival before transferring to London and Broadway. Their next major collaboration, *Jesus Christ Superstar*, initially released as a concept album in 1970, achieved international acclaim and multiple revivals. Their third notable work, *Evita*, debuted as a concept album and then opened in the West End in 1978, enjoying numerous revivals including a recent staging at the London Palladium.
Collectively, these productions have earned numerous accolades including Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, and have been performed worldwide in more than 80 countries. Despite their historic success, the collaboration between Lloyd Webber, 78, and Rice, 81, has been intermittent since their peak creative period in the 1970s.
Lloyd Webber expressed his well-wishes for the production's future with Goodall’s involvement, describing the composer as a fitting choice to succeed him. Whether the two iconic figures of British musical theatre will collaborate again remains uncertain.