Starlight Express is orchestrated by Andrew Lloyd Webber with, depending on the production David Cullen (Bochum 2018) or Matthew Brind (Wembley 2024).
In most productions, the orchestra is hidden from the audience, either under the stage (as in London) or in an separate room backstage (as in New York and Bochum).
Over the years, the score has been re-orchestrated to keep up with musical fashion, and for increasingly smaller orchestras.
Orchestrations by production[]
Original London Production (1984-1992)[]

The Orchestra Room, backstage at the Starlight Express Theater, Bochum
- Keyboard 1 / Harmonica
- Keyboard 2
- Keyboard 3
- Drums
- Guitars
- Bass Guitar
- Percussion
- Trumpet 1
- Trumpet 2
- Trumpet 3
- Trumpet 4
- French Horn
- Trombone 1
- Trombone 2
- Tenor Sax/Flute/Piccolo
- Alto & Baritone Sax/Clarinet
New York 1987[]
- Keyboard 1
- Keyboard 2
- Keyboard 3
- Keyboard 4
- Drums
- Guitar 1
- Guitar 2
- Bass
- Percussion
- Trumpet 1
- Trumpet 2
- Trumpet 3
- Trumpet 4
- Trombone 1
- Trombone 2
- French Horn
- Bass Trombone 1
- Bass Trombone 2
- Reeds 1
- Reeds 2
- Reeds 3
- Reeds 4
Bochum 1988[]
- Keyboards I
- Keyboards II
- Keyboards III
- Trumpet I
- Trumpet II
- Trumpet III
- Clarinet/Sax/Flute
- Picc/Flute/Sax
- Sax/Flute/Clarinet
- Trombone I
- Trombone II
- Horn
- Guitar I
- Guitar II
- Bass
- Drums
- Percussion
Also the vocals were supported by six booth singers.
'New' London Production (1992-2002)[]
- Keyboard 1 / Harmonica
- Keyboard 2
- Keyboard 3
- Keyboard 4
- Drums
- Guitar 1
- Guitar 2
- Bass Guitar
- Percussion
- Trumpet 1
- Trumpet 2
- Trumpet 3
- French Horn
- Trombone 1
- Trombone 2
- Tenor Sax/Flute/Piccolo
UK Tour 2004[]
Accompanied by the 3D Race films.
- Keyboard 1
- Keyboard 2
- Guitar
- Bass
- Drums
- Alto/Tenor Sax & Flute
- Trumpet
- Trombone
Bochum 2007[]
- Keyboard I
- Keyboard II
- Trumpet
- Sax/Clarinet/Picc/Flute
- Trombone
- Guitar I
- Guitar II
- Bass
- Drums
UK Tour 2012/Bochum 2013 (licensed as 'The Definitive Starlight Express')[]

The Band take their bow, Bochum 2016
- Keyboard 1
- Keyboard 2
- Guitars
- Bass
- Drums
- Alto & Tenor Sax/Flute/Piccolo
- Trumpet
- Trombone
2017 London workshop[]
- Keyboard 1
- Keyboard 2
- Keyboard 3
- Harmonica
- Guitar 1
- Guitar 2
- Bass
- Drums
2018 Bochum[1][]
- Keyboard 1
- Keyboard 2
- Keyboard 3
- Guitar 1
- Guitar 2
- Bass
- Drums
2024 Wembley[2][]
- Keyboard 1
- Keyboard 2
- Keyboard 3
- Guitar 1
- Guitar 2
- Bass
- Drums
Technology[]
The music in Starlight Express is performed live. To maintain consistency – both for the cast and the overall effect of the show – the band plays to a metronome that uses a detailed tempo map. This means that the songs are always performed at exactly the same speed, including moments when the music speeds up or slows down for dramatic effect[3].
In the UK and 2nd US tours, the race music was recorded, accompanying 3D race footage on screens in the auditorium.