<P> In 1978, Lloyd Webber embarked on a solo project, the Variations, with his cellist brother Julian based on the 24th Caprice by Paganini, which reached number two in the pop album chart in the United Kingdom . The main theme was used as the theme tune for ITV's long - running South Bank Show throughout its 32 - year run . The same year, Lloyd Webber also composed a new theme tune for the long - running documentary series Whicker's World, which was used from 1978 to 1980 . </P> <P> Lloyd Webber was the subject of This Is Your Life in November 1980 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in the foyer of Thames Television's Euston Road Studios . He would be honoured a second time by the television programme in November 1994 when Michael Aspel surprised him at the Adelphi Theatre . </P> <P> Lloyd Webber embarked on his next project without a lyricist, turning instead to the poetry of T.S. Eliot . Cats (1981) was to become the longest running musical in London, where it ran for 21 years before closing . On Broadway, Cats ran for 18 years, a record which would ultimately be broken by another Lloyd Webber musical, The Phantom of the Opera . </P> <P> Starlight Express (1984) was a commercial hit, but received negative reviews from the critics . It enjoyed a record run in the West End, but ran for less than two years on Broadway . The show has also seen two tours of the US, as well as an Australian / Japanese production, a three - year UK touring production, which transferred to New Zealand later in 2009 . The show also runs full - time in a custom - built theatre in Bochum, Germany, where it has been running since 1988 . </P>

Who wrote cats and phantom of the opera
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