"We felt we had to know something of his back story. I don't think people in the cinema would just accept that he's there. I think we had to learn how he (got there)"

Andrew Lloyd Webber underscores the importance of character depth and narrative context, especially within visual storytelling like cinema. He highlights an essential aspect of audience experience: viewers look for reasons behind a character’s presence and actions, rather than accepting their existence at face value. Rather than relying on archetypes or unexplained figures, modern audiences desire connection through backstory, motivation, and psychological insight. A character simply appearing on screen is not enough; the audience craves understanding of their journey, struggles, and what has shaped them into who they are at the time of the story.

In theatrical traditions, and even in some older films, characters may have functioned effectively as symbols or plot devices without detailed exposition. However, as cinema has evolved, so have the expectations of its viewers. The direct emotional investment of a cinematic experience, visual storytelling, sound, close-ups, creates an intimacy that prompts audiences to question not just what a character does, but why. Webber acknowledges this by suggesting that to make a character compelling or believable in film, their history must be fleshed out, giving the audience both empathy and an anchor for the unfolding action.

His insights also reflect on the creative process. Writers and composers are often tasked with building comprehensive worlds, and the pressure is greater when adapting existing works or working in fields with high audience expectations. Understanding a character’s backstory is not only a creative choice but a requirement for audience engagement. It allows the story to resonate on a deeper level, revealing the motivations, fears, and past experiences that inform present decisions. This background knowledge helps transform abstract or mysterious figures into relatable people whose actions and fate matter to the viewer, thus strengthening the impact of the overall narrative and heightening emotional responses.