Statement issued followed departure of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST UK tour director Rob Roth

Producers of the Beauty and the Beast UK tour have issued a statement surrounding recent changes to its creative team.

Original choreographer of the show, Matt West, will now also direct the new production after Rob Roth stepped down from his position after a private email was discovered with him supporting Broadway producer Scott Rudin.

Following a detailed article in the Hollywood Reporter and allegations of bullying, Rudin is currently under intense criticism and he himself has “stepped away” from his productions in light of this, including The Book of Mormon and To Kill A Mockingbird.

Disney said in a statement: "Following Rob Roth's decision to step aside as director, Disney Theatrical Productions is pleased to announce that Matt West, original choreographer and longtime member of the Disney Theatrical family, will direct and choreograph the brand-new production of Beauty and the Beast which launches its UK and Ireland tour in Bristol this August."

The hit musical has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton.

The tour is scheduled to open at Bristol Hippodrome on 25 August.

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