Julian Fellowes praises ‘Hamilton’ as a ‘reinvention of the musical’

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has praised the Broadway musical Hamilton as an example of “reinventing” theatre.

Hamilton: An American Musical is a musical about the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and transferred to Broadway in August 2015.

The show has achieved huge critical acclaim and box office success, receiving a record-setting 16 Tony nominations, winning 11.

Julian Fellowes, who wrote the stage adaptations of hit musicals Mary Poppins and School of Rock, told Press Association: “The thing with something new is that you don’t know what it is until you see it and you can never anticipate the next new thing. Surprises is what we need.”

He added: “I’m really looking forward to Hamilton, that’s the one I am excited to see because it will be a reinvention of the musical, every so often every form of art needs reinvention.”

A production of Hamilton open in London’s West End this November at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

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