Musical's silent tribute

At the world premiere of a new stage musical about the Indian Raj, two front row seats will be left empty by order of the author.

British novelist M M Kaye died before her dream of seeing her romantic saga The Far Pavilions being performed in London could be fulfilled.

"If I should fall off my worldly twig before the curtain goes up, I shall make an awful nuisance of myself in the next life unless I'm allowed back to see it run," said the writer, who died in January last year at the age of 95.

Producer Michael Ward is roping off two seats on the April 14 first night as a silent tribute to Kaye and her late husband.