The lyrical legend behind timeless hits like Don't Cry For Me Argentina and Disney's Hakuna Matata Sir Tim Rice saw a standing ovation at the Hexagon this week. 

For one night and one night only hoards of showtune lovers from Reading and surrounding areas flocked to see his biopic show My Life In Musicals on Tuesday April 30. 

The evening saw Sir Tim candidly share anecdotes from his booming career as a lyricist with brief beautiful intervals of musical performances from top quality singers and musicians. 

Telling the crowd of both his flops and successes, Sir Tim was poised, charismatic, gentle, and humorous. I found myself both hooked on his every word and laughing at each one of his jokes. 

Sarah Hawks, 61, from Caversham said she thought the evening was excellent. 

"It was such a privilege to see Tim Rice talk very openly, movingly, and eloquently about his career.

"It was incredible to realise how long he's been working for and what fantastic iconic songs he has written."

The evening's performances by the Duncan Waugh Band and West End singers saw everything from classic stage hits like I Know Him So Well to a piece written for an Asian popstar. 

A particularly poignant moment was when two of the incredibly talented performers sang A Whole New World from Disney's Aladdin whilst the stage was lit up with stars. 

Ms Hawks continued "It was everything from Joseph and the Technicoloured Dreamcoat, which was written for schools, right to tracks for Taiwanese popstars. It was just really incredible.

"The singing was excellent, the band was superb, the audience seemed to really love it."

Multiple attendees described Sir Tim as a 'real gentleman' who told the story of his life whilst decked out in a baby blue suit, presenting to the audience each one of his awards. 

These included a Grammy, an Emmy, and an Oscar which he won for the song Can You Feel The Love Tonight from Disney's Lion King. 

Sir Tim also, impressively, spoke to the audience for over two hours without the aide of any notes. 

"All the singers and the work they did together for the duets was faultless," Ms Hawks said. 

"I particularly loved to hear some of Jesus Christ Superstar as I really like that musical, Another Suitcase In Another Hall, I really did think the performance of Don't Cry For Me Argentina sent shivers up my spine."

If you missed My Life In Musicals at the Hexagon, you can check where it'll be performed next here.