Cats eye Chinese stage

Lloyd Webber: The composer among his Cats

Lord Lloyd Webber is planning to take some of his world-famous musicals to China.

China is a huge market and one worth looking at

Really Useful Group spokesman

The composer is in the early stages of negotiations with the Chinese authorities over a possible showcase of his famous shows - which include Cats, Evita and Phantom of the Opera.

A spokesman for his company, the Really Useful Group, said: "China is a huge market and one worth looking at.

Phantom of Tiananmen Square?

"Andrew Lloyd Webber would love to have his musicals staged there."

The Beautiful Game opened last year in London's West End

Songs from his most recent musical, The Beautiful Game, were performed at the inauguration celebrations of President George W Bush last month.

The spokesman added: "The success of Andrew Lloyd Webber throughout the world is well documented. We are in early discussions and no time scale has been drawn up."

Tiananmen Square has already been touted as a possible venue, while Elaine Paige, who appeared in the original stage production of Evita, has already been mentioned as a possible performer.

But the spokesman said it was too early to give specifics about the productions.

Bill Taylor, chief executive of the Really Useful Group, said: "I am very excited about bringing productions into China and I am really enjoying working with the Chinese to try and bring this off."