Hamilton in London: Smash-hit American musical officially opens in the capital today

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Tom Powell21 December 2017

Smash-hit musical Hamilton officially opens in London’s West End today.

The long-awaited hip hop show arrives in the capital on the back of sensational success in Broadway, where it bagged 11 Tony Awards and scored creator Lin-Manuel Miranda a Pulitzer Prize.

The run at the newly refurbished Victoria Palace Theatre will be the first outside the US, after receiving rapturous receptions in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.

Hamilton uses different musical genres to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton - one of America's founding fathers.

Audiences at preview shows have so far heaped praise upon the musical
Matthew Murphy

It is opening in London two weeks later than originally planned after renovations to the theatre delayed the start of previews, forcing thousands of ticket-holders to be re-seated.

In the programme notes for the production, co-producer Cameron Mackintosh writes: "In only two years this brilliantly original musical has already become a legendary success in America and, whatever anybody tells you about it, the experience of seeing it is what really matters.

"With a stupendously talented cast, I have no doubt that London audiences are in for a theatrical experience like no other."

The show has been in previews since December 6 and audiences have heaped praise on the performances before critics deliver their own verdicts.

Mr Miranda, who penned the musical and starred as the title character in the original Broadway cast, has previously said he is excited to see how the comedic portrayal of King George III, the British monarch who lost the American colonies, is received in the UK.

He said: "King George III is a crowd favourite with every actor, every rapper.

"When Busta Rhymes saw the show he said 'I need that outfit'.

"There is something about the character, he becomes an audience surrogate.

"It's sort of delightful, as he pokes holes in the American mythology, he's all of us in a way."

It is the first run of Hamilton outside the US
Matthew Murphy

Mr Miranda added that he does not think the fact the show details another country's history will affect the audience's enjoyment and understanding.

He said: "That was one of the first questions I got when I was in London - 'We don't know your history here'. I would sheepishly add, 'Well most Americans don't know our history either so that's not an impediment to enjoying the musical'.

"But I'm very curious to see how you guys react to King George III in the show, that theatre is in the shadow of Buckingham Palace so I'm very curious to see how that goes over.

Mr Miranda is expected to attend opening night with his wife Vanessa Nadal after the couple offered fans the chance to make a donation to charities to be in with a chance of joining them at the show.

They teamed up with online fundraising platform Prizeo to invite fans to make a donation to the National Resources Defence Council and the UK-based climate change charity 10:10 to be in with a chance of winning the prize.

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