Sun sets for London's 'Starlight'

The London production alone has grossed $200 million

By CNN's Graham Jones

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The Andrew Lloyd Webber roller-skating musical "Starlight Express" is to close in London on Saturday after 7,406 performances and being seen by more than eight million people.

The "dazzling" extravaganza which opened in 1984 has taken more than £140m ($200m) at the London box office and toured the world from New York and Las Vegas to Japan, Australia to Mexico.

The production, a favourite of visitors to London, has featured stars like Stephanie Lawrence and P.P. Arnold, and helped launch the career of "Scary Spice," Mel B.

Over the years the show featuring characters based on railway engines has consumed more than 5,500 false eyelashes, 27,600 pairs of skate laces plus 23,000 toe stops and allegedly even has its own ghost.

EXTRA INFORMATION Star facts about 'Starlight'

"Starlight Express has had an amazing run," the multimillionaire composer said of the musical which ranks as the second most successful in London theatre.

The current record holder is another Lloyd Webber spectacular, "Cats," which celebrates its 21st birthday in May.

Lloyd Webber said of Starlight Express: "It is a show very dear to my heart as I wrote it for my older children, now aged 24 and 22, and I want to turn it into something my younger children will enjoy.

"Its final performance will be a very emotional experience for all of us who have been close to it for the past 18 years."

But he stressed it was not the end of the line for the show.

Composer Lloyd Webber plans animated and stadium versions

"January 12 will be a chance for us to celebrate Starlight in its original London home safe in the knowledge that as we say goodbye to it here, plans are well developed for its future life elsewhere. I look forward to introducing it to new audiences and to new generations of theatregoers."

Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group say they have plans for a UK tour of Starlight Express in a purpose built environment and an animated television series based on the musical.

They say plans are being developed for a stadium production of the show to take overseas. "Starlight" will also continue its record-breaking run in a purpose-built theatre in Bochum, Germany where it first opened in June 1988 and has notched up more than 5,400 performances.

Said Lloyd Webber: "I have long wanted to see 'Starlight Express' presented in Britain in a purpose-built environment as we have in Germany.

"Starlight's closure in London provides the perfect opportunity to to plan this whilst freeing up the theatre for my production of the musical 'Bollywood Dreams."'

Among the many stories associated with the London production is that of the ticket tout who has been selling tickets for the show every weekend since 1984 -- he now has his grandson to help him.

The show's most dedicated fan is recorded as a postman from Kent who has seen the show 750 times, spending more than £21,000 ($30,000). He always sits in the same seat, Stalls L23.