Baz Bamigboye: Curtain to Come Down on Andrew Lloyd Webber's STEPHEN WARD Within 'Several Weeks'

The curtain may be coming down on Andrew Lloyd Webber's STEPHEN WARD.

Just days after The Telegraph's Tim Walker initially reported that the West End musical may be concluding its run at the end of May, Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail has tweeted the the lights may go out even sooner than expected. The show previously received an extension through 31 May 2014.

Bamigboye, a columnist for the publication, tweeted: ‏@BazBam: "Cast of Lloyd Webber's (@OfficialALW ) show Stephen Ward being told show will end run at Aldwych Theatre (@aldwychtheatre) in several weeks."

Bamigboye has also heard that a replacement for 'WARD' may already be lined up. He followed his first tweet with a second, posting: "RSC production #WolfHall & #BringUptheBodies in talks to move into Aldwych Theatre (@aldwychtheatre) for limited 3 to 4 month run."

If the production does close within the coming months, if not weeks, it will be Webber's shortest-running show yet. Since 'WARD' premiered to mixed reviews last December, the musical has struggled to fill the Aldwych's seats, with ticket prices regularly being cut as winter draws on.

On Saturday, an insider told Walker: "On too many nights, the theatre is struggling to fill even half of its seats and that means it is almost certainly running at a loss. Andrew has a difficult dilemma - how long can he keep the life support machine on, in the hope that it might yet recover?"

When approached for comment, Webber's spokesperson told Walker: "It's business as usual...I have nothing more to tell you."

BWW will keep you updated on the status of West End's 'WARD' within the coming weeks.

Stephen Ward charts the rise and fall from grace of the man at the centre of the Profumo affair. Friend to film stars, spies, models, government ministers and aristocrats, his rise and ultimate disgrace coincided with the increasingly permissive lifestyle of London's elite in the early 1960's. The musical centres on Ward's involvement with the young and beautiful Christine Keeler and their chance meeting in a West End night club which led to one of the biggest political scandals and trials of the 20th century.

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Ward has book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black. The production is directed by Richard Eyre with set and costume designs by Rob Howell, lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscolland choreography by Stephen Mear.Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group.

The current cast comprises Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward, Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as MAndy Rice Davies, Anthony Calf as Lord Astor, Daniel Flynn as John Profumo, Joanna Riding asValerie Hobson, Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray,Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon andWayne Robinson as Johnny Edgecombe. Other cast members are Martin Callaghan, Kate Coyston, Jason Denton,Julian Forsyth, Amy Griffiths, Paul Kemble, Emma Kate Nelson, Carl Sanderson, Emily Squibb, John Stacey, Helen Ternent and Tim Walton.