It's curtains

Sheridan's West End musical is axed

- MARK JEFFERIES and CHARLOTTE MCLAUGHLIN

SHERIDAN Smith's West End show Opening Night is closing two month early after being panned by audiences and critics.

Producers Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Playful Productions will pull the plug on May 18, blaming financial challenges. It had been due to run until July 27.

Wessex Grove said yesterday: "In a challenging financial landscape, Opening Night was always a risk and, while it may not have had the life we had hoped for, we feel immensely proud of the risk we took and of this extraordinary production.

"Our world class cast delivers a brilliant show night after night and there are still five weeks left to see Sheridan Smith in the role of a lifetime."