Did you know that the first ever full-scale performance of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in Hong Kong was 32 years ago, on 17 January 1994? The musical Cats made its highly anticipated premiere here at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), having already been seen by 42 million people around the world.
The SCMP described it as the “purrfect” start for Lloyd Webber in HK, and sure enough, a year later The Phantom of the Opera arrived, with a run of shows at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre starting in July 1995.
While both have been back a couple of times since then, it can be a long wait between productions for Lloyd Webber fans. But now Hongkongers are getting a double dose, with Cats returning in August, and Jesus Christ Superstar playing for the very first time in July.
While you’re counting down the days to the shows, try our trivia challenge!
10 Questions: How well do you know Andrew Lloyd Webber?
- Which British songwriter is best known for collaborating on five musicals with ALW?
- Making its Hong Kong debut in 1998 was Joseph and the Amazing… what?
- Which Olympic Games did ALW write the theme song for: Barcelona, London or Athens?
- Which pop star played Bombalurina in the 2019 film version of Cats?
- Which musical first opened in HK in 2024 and is based on the 2003 film starring Jack Black?
- ALW served in the UK’s House of Lords for years, true or false?
- Performers are decked out as roller-skating trains in which musical?
- ALW is one of a small handful of EGOT winners. What does that mean?
- Which musical (another to have toured Hong Kong in the past) includes the song “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”?
- ALW once released a Eurodance remix of the theme tune from video game Tetris, using what pseudonym: Doctor Spin, Baron Block or Jellicle Jim?
Speaking of upcoming musicals in Hong Kong, the musical version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is also on its way to Hong Kong! It opens on 4 November (charliemusicalhk.com)
Quiz Answers:
1. Tim Rice 2. Technicolour Dreamcoat 3. Barcelona 4. Taylor Swift 5. School of Rock 6. True, though he was notorious for not attending 7. Starlight Express 8. He has an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (“EGOT”) 9. Evita 10. Doctor Spin
This article on Andrew Lloyd Webber first appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest mag or an annual subscription, or read the digital version for free now.
