Rufus Wainwright Blames UK's 'Narrow Outlook' Post-Brexit For Show's Closure

Rufus Wainwright has defended his musical Opening Night, which was forced to close early after mixed reviews, saying West End audiences lacked "curiosity" after Brexit and the British press had turned on the project because it was too "European".

- Lanre Bakare

Opening Night was Wainwright's first musical and is an adaptation of John Cassavetes' 1977 film about an actor struggling to cope, who is played by Sheridan Smith. Directed by Ivo van Hove, it opened in March at the Gielgud theatre but a month later announced it would be closing two months early.

Some audience members have reportedly walked out during the performance or left during the interval.

The musical includes a scene where Smith staggers out into the streets of the West End while being filmed, and the film is projected back on to the stage.

Wainwright said the experimental elements were too much for conservative audiences, and seeing Smith-a mainstream star - in something more avant garde was anathema to certain critics and audience members.