Musical dedicated to murdered Belfast teen

The parents of a young man murdered in Northern Ireland will tonight be among the audience watching the curtain fall on the final performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton’s musical, The Beautiful Game.

The hit show, which follows the fortunes of a Belfast football team against the backdrop of the Troubles, is ending its run after a year on the London stage.

And the two creators have decided to dedicate tonight’s final performance to the memory of an 18-year-old man shot dead in a sectarian killing in July.

Gavin Brett, a Protestant from Belfast was walking home with his Catholic friend, Michael Farrell, when a gunman opened fire on the pair from a passing car.

Mr Brett was killed and his friend seriously injured, receiving gunshot wounds to a foot.

When Lloyd Webber and Elton heard about the tragedy, they wrote to Mr Brett’s parents inviting them to the final performance and offering to dedicate the show to their son’s memory.

They will also make a donation to a charity of the Brett family’s choice.

Lloyd Webber said: ‘‘We are honoured to dedicate the final show performance of The Beautiful Game to the memory of Gavin Brett.

‘‘Both Ben Elton and I were shocked and saddened by the tragedy of Gavin’s death. His parents have flown over to London and we are delighted to make a donation to a charity of the Brett family’s choice.

‘‘In writing our musical The Beautiful Game we wanted to draw attention to the plight of young people and their families trying to live normal lives within a war zone.’’

The Beautiful Game opened in September last year to rave reviews and even won the London Critic’s Circle award for best musical.

But the final whistle was called after the tourist slump in London led to falling box office takings.