Playbill has reported that the tribute concert Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, starring Lea Salonga and Bernadette Peters and which was set to begin previews 16 September at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End, "has delayed its first performance until September 21 following Haydn Gwynne's withdrawal from the company due to personal circumstances."

"The rehearsal period has subsequently been extended while a replacement for the Billy Elliot star is found. The production hopes to announce Gwynne's replacement shortly," the report added.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh has also released a statement about Gwynne's withdrawal, saying that he and director Matthew Bourne "were naturally very distressed, along with our brilliant cast headed by Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, to learn that Haydn Gwynne must suddenly withdraw from the production, for the immediate future at least."

"Haydn gave an unforgettable performance of 'Ladies Who Lunch' during the Old Friends Gala Premiere in May 2022 and has been an integral part of this very close-knit company ever since. Haydn will be very much missed, and we all send her our love. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused to our patrons who had bought tickets for the first few performances, particularly those coming from afar. All affected ticket holders will be contacted directly by the box office to make arrangements for you to see an alternative performance as quickly as possible," Mackintosh added.

The production, which originally run as a one-night only engagement in May 2022, is set to have a 16-week season at the Gielgud Theatre.

Aside from Salonga and Peters, both Tony winners, "the show will welcome back a variety of stars from the original concert including… Christine Allado (Hamilton, The Prince of Egypt), Janie Dee (Carousel, Follies), Bonnie Langford (42nd Street, 9 to 5), Jeremy Secomb (Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables), Beatrice Penny-Touré (The Phantom of the Opera, winner of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship), Joanna Riding (Carousel, Follies) and Jac Yarrow (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)," according to whatsonstage.com.

Allado is a Filipino performer who is also making her mark on the West End, following in the footsteps of Salonga, Joanna Ampil (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Cats, Rent, Avenue Q), Rachel Anne Go (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Hamilton), and Jon Jon Briones (Miss Saigon).

Sondheim — "the theater's most revered and influential composer-lyricist of the last half of the 20th century and the driving force behind some of Broadway's most beloved and celebrated shows," as described by the New York Times — died on 26 November 2021 at 91.