The original RSC production was nominated for 5 Olivier Awards in 1985 (categories in bold are wins):
- Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actor in a Musical (Alun Armstrong)
- Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actor in a Musical (Colm Wilkinson)
- Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical (Patti LuPone)
- Musical of the Year
In February 2011, all orchestra members were required to re-audition. Updated orchestrations had been done for the 25th Anniversary Tour, expanding the orchestra from 11 to 14. The West End production was the only one using the original orchestrations. Because the new orchestrations required doubling and trebling, some musicians would be required to play multiple instruments, thus the re-auditioning.
At the time, a new sound design was also brought in.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh drew controversy when the production moved to the Queen's Theatre in 2004. He scaled back the orchestra and brought in a sinfonia (described as a 'virtual orchestra') instead.
On October 8, 2015, a gala was held celebrating the 30th anniversary of the production. The finale of the October 8 performance featured previous cast members Colm Wilkinson, Patti LuPone, Roger Allam and Frances Ruffelle, plus special guests Alfie Boe, John Owen-Jones and Gerónimo Rauch.
Closed to allow for renovations of the Queen's Theatre.