Gillian Lynne centenary marked with launch of new ‘legacy key’ tradition

The centenary of Gillian Lynne’s birth has been marked with the launch a “legacy key” tradition, which will honour choreographers whose work is staged within the theatre named after her.

The first key was presented to You-Ri Yamanaka, movement director of the Royal Shakespeare Company production of My Neighbour Totoro, currently running at the theatre.

The initiative features one main legacy key, which will remain on display at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre alongside a plaque listing all recipients. The key will be passed to the movement director or choreographer of each new production staged at the venue, while each recipient will also receive a smaller keepsake version to keep personally.

The initiative was launched on 11th May at an event that also marked 45 years since the premiere of Cats, with performances of choreography from the musical staged by Chrissie Cartwright, Lucy May Barker and Isabel Moore.

Guests included Darcey Bussell, Arlene Phillips and Fabian Aloise, alongside collaborators, creatives and emerging artists supported by the Lynne and Land Foundation.

A new film celebrating Lynne’s life and career was also screened as part of a commemorative installation at the venue, which was renamed by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2018, making Lynne the first non-royal woman to have a West End theatre named in her honour.

Best known for her work on The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, Lynne was widely credited with reshaping the role of choreography in musical theatre through her movement-led approach to storytelling.