The Japan/Australia Tour ran from 15 November 1987 to 29 May 1988, a large-scale, "in-the-round" production that toured sports arenas. The production was so popular in Japan that the show was revived from 24 March – 18 July 1990.
- Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
- Desgned by John Napier
- Choerographed by Arlene Phillips
- Lighting by David Hersey
- Sound by Martin Levan
- Production Musical Director David Caddick
- Original productions in London and New York directed by Trevor Nunn
- Adapted and Directed for Japan and Australia by Dion McHugh
- Assistant Director Carole Todd
- Musical Director Philip Edwards
- Assistant Choreographer Ilse Challis
- General Management Adelaide Festival Centre Trust
- Executive Producer John Robertson
- Producers Kevin Earle and Mort Clark
- Produced in London by The Really Useful Theatre Company
- Produced in Japan by Fujisankei Communications Group
Production Specifics
The Japan/Australia tour was the third production internationally, and first to be run without Belle the Sleeping Car. As such most of the revisions from the Broadway production, (Engine of Love, Only You, 4 race structure) were included.
Mykal Rand as Electra with his eight Components, 1990
Character Doubles
This was the first tour of Starlight Express and was the only tour to have the facilities to perform the races live, by skating around the large arena set. This production included multiple characters:
Components:
National Engines:
- Weltschaft, Flying Hamburger - Germany
- Espresso, Pendelino - Italy
- Hashimoto and Nakamura (1987) or Yamamoto (1990) - Japan
- Bobo, Coco - France
- Turnov, Vladimir (1990, simply Turnov 1 and 2 in 1987) - Russia
This production cut the British Train, a precursor to the German production taking the same step. The cast also included 19 swing performers, and 12 stunt skaters.
Races
The race structure incorporated multiple racers to fill the huge stage, and the races were run by stunt skaters rather than the cast.
Musical Numbers
You can see the full list of songs here.
1987 Tour
Tour Dates
- Tokyo: 15th November - 11th December 1987
- Osaka: 24th December 1987 - 10th January 1988
- Sydney: 24th January - 28th February 1988
- Brisbane: 6th March - 20th March 1988
- Melbourne: 27th March - 14th April 1988
- Adelaide: 21st April - 8th May 1988
- Perth: 18th May - 29th May 1988
Gallery
1990 Tour
1990
- Tokyo : 23rd March - 9th April 1990
- Nagoya: 16th April - 6th May 1990
- Fukuoka: 13th May - 27th May 1990
- Hiroshima: 3rd June - 18th June 1990
- Osaka: 30th June - 18th July 1990
StEx Japan Tour 1990 - Japan CM
STARLIGHT EXPRESS Japan tour1990 promotion
(around minute 42:00 starts "There's a light at the end of the tunnel, where you can see the Characters and Their doubles)
Gallery
1987 Japan/Australia Tour Highlights Album
The cast recorded a highlights album, which was released with different covers in Japanese and English.
Touring Set
