Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical is drawn from one of the great British sex scandals of the 1960s.

Stephen Ward tells the story of an osteopath and socialite in London who introduced showgirl Christine Keeler to British cabinet minister John Profumo. They had an affair while Keeler was also linked to an alleged Soviet spy. The scandal forced Profumo to resign and damaged the reputation of the Conservative government.

Ward was put on trial for living off immoral earnings of prostitution and committed suicide. A witness in the trial against him, Mandy Rice-Davies, has been advising Webber on the musical.

Stephen Ward begins performances in London December 3rd.