Audiences of musical theatre have seen dancing cats and cowboys, singing trains and sad lunatic film stars, and have accepted all these things in the spirit of the genre.

They have seldom accepted a sequel, however. The history of Broadway is full of musical follow-ups that have failed even with the same characters, the same cast, the same producers and a rather similar storyline. In 1981 the creative team behind the sixties hit Bye Bye Birdie produced Bring Back Birdie, which closed after four performances. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, of 1978, which ran and ran, was followed by The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public in 1994, which lasted two weeks.

If anyone can turn back this tide of musical failure, of course, it is Andrew Lloyd Webber. Theatregoers must steel themselves for the possibility of a success that opens the door to new Lloyd Webber sequels. It would, in principle, be possible to follow the bewildering story of Cats with a musical that centred on another household pet: Dogs, for example, or hamsters.

Joseph And His Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat could perhaps take a look at garments Joseph wore later in life, or else leap forward to the dramatic fashion choices of another biblical figure such as Samson and his amazing haircut. We may yet learn some new aspects of love, which change everything, and of the prison life of poor old Norma Desmond: “And now, Mr De Mille, I am ready for my mugshot.”

Last but certainly not least, there is a clear opportunity to recast Starlight Express post-privatisation amid the competing franchises. There is Virgin and First Great Western, but which is fastest? And is there a love interest? And floating above the chaos, may we believe in a God-like presence, a mysterious Starlight Express, that will make them all run on time? It is a nice thought.

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