'West End theatre' is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in
London,
England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland". Along with
New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial
theatre in the
English speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common
tourist activity in London.
Total attendances first surpassed 12 million in 2002, and in
June 2005 The Times reported that this record might be beaten in 2005. Factors behind high ticket sales in the first half of 2005 included new hit musicals such as ''
Billy Elliot'', ''
The Producers'' and ''
Mary Poppins'' and the high number of film stars appearing. Since the late 1990s there has been an increase in the number of American actors on the London stage, and in 2005 these included
Brooke Shields,
Val Kilmer,
Rob Lowe and
David Schwimmer. Also in 2005,
Ewan McGregor made his first appearance in a stage musical in ''
Guys and Dolls''.
Kevin Spacey has been artistic director of the
Old Vic Theatre since 2004 and appears in some of his own productions.
Theatreland
The Lyceum Theatre
London's main theatre district is located in the heart of the
West End of the city centre, and is traditionally defined by
The Strand to the south,
Oxford Street to the north,
Regent Street to the west, and
Kingsway to the east although
The South Bank Complex is now considered by some to be part of it. Prominent theatre streets include
Drury Lane,
Shaftesbury Avenue, and
The Strand. This area contains approximately forty large theatres and is often referred to as ''Theatreland''. The works staged are predominantly
musicals,
classic or middle brow
plays, and
comedy performances.
Most of the theatres in "Theatreland" are of late
Victorian or Edwardian construction, and they are privately owned. Most of them have great character, and the largest and best maintained are splendid, featuring grand neo-classical, romanesque, or Victorian facades and luxurious, detailed interior design and decoration. On the other hand, leg room is often cramped, and audience facilities such as bars and toilets are often much smaller than in modern theatres. The protected status of the buildings and their confined urban locations, combined with financial constraints, mean that it is very difficult to make substantial improvements to the level of comfort offered. In 2004, it was estimated that an investment of £250 million was required for modernisation, and the theatre owners unsuccessfully requested tax concessions to help them meet the costs.
Long-running shows
West End shows may run for a varying number of weeks, depending on ticket sales. Musicals tend to have longer runs than dramas. The longest running musical in West End history is ''
Les Misérables''. It overtook
Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''
Cats'', which closed in 2002 after running for 8,949 performances and 21 years, as the longest running West End musical of all time on 8 October 2006. Other long-runners include Lloyd Webber's ''
The Phantom of the Opera'', still running after 20 years, and
Willy Russell's ''
Blood Brothers'', currently in its 19th year. However the non-musical
Agatha Christie play ''
The Mousetrap'' is the longest running show in the world, and has been showing since 1952.
'Longest running shows in London:'
★ '
The Mousetrap' at the
St Martin's Theatre - opened 25th November 1952 originally at the
Ambassadors Theatre[1] - 55th Year. ''It is also the longest running show in Canada; starting on 19th August 1977 it closed on 18th January 2004 after running for 26 years.
[2]''
★ '
Les Misérables' at the
Queen's Theatre - opened 8th October 1985 originally at the
Barbican Theatre[3] - 22nd Year
★ '
Cats' - opened 11th May 1981 at the
New London Theatre and closed 11th May 2002 on its 21st anniversary
★ '
The Phantom of the Opera' at
Her Majesty's Theatre - opened 9th October 1986
[4] - 21st Year
★ '
Blood Brothers' at the
Phoenix Theatre - opened 28th July 1988 originally at the
Albery Theatre[5] - 19th Year
★ '
The Woman in Black' at the
Fortune Theatre opened 15th February 1989 originally at the
Strand Theatre[6] - 19th Year
★ '
Starlight Express' - opened 27th March 1984 at the
Apollo Victoria Theatre and closed 12th January 2002
[7] - 17 years
★ '
No Sex Please, We're British' - opened in 1971 at the
Strand Theatre and closed about 1987
[7] - 16 years
★ '
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story' - opened 6th October 1995 at the
Victoria Palace Theatre and closed 19th May 2002
[7] - 13 years
★ '
The Black and White Minstrel Show' - opened in 1962 at the
Victoria Palace Theatre and closed about 1972
[7] - 10 years
★ '
Miss Saigon' - opened in 1989 at the
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and closed about 1999
[7] - 10 years
★ '
Chicago' at the
Cambridge Theatre - opened 18th November 1997 originally at the
Adelphi Theatre[12] - 9th Year
★ '
Mamma Mia!' at the
Prince of Wales Theatre - opened 6th April 1999 originally at the
Prince Edward Theatre[13] - 8th Year
★ '
Jesus Christ Superstar' - opened in 1972 at the
Palace Theatre and closed about 1980
[7] - 8 years
★ '
Me and My Girl' (revival) - opened in 1985 at the
Adelphi Theatre and closed about 1993
[7] - 8 years
★ '
Disney's The Lion King' at the
Lyceum Theatre - opened 19th October 1999
[12] - 8th Year
★ 'Aldwych Farces' (revue) - opened in 1925 at the
Aldwych Theatre and closed in 1933 - 8 years
★ '
Evita' - opened in 1978 at the
Prince Edward Theatre and closed about 1985
[7] - 7 years
★ '
Oliver!' - opened in 1960 at the
New Theatre and closed about 1966
[7] - 6 years
★ '
We Will Rock You' at the
Dominion Theatre - 14th May 2002
[19] - 6th Year
★ '
Stomp' at the
Vaudeville Theatre opened 25th September 2002
[20] - 5th Year
London's non-commercial theatres
The exterior of the Old Vic
It should be noted that the term West End Theatre is sometimes used to refer specifically to commercial productions in "Theatreland". However the leading non-commercial (usually government subsidised) theatres in London, such as the
National Theatre, the
Royal Shakespeare Company, the
Globe Theatre[21], the
Old Vic, the
Young Vic, the
Royal Court Theatre, the
Almeida Theatre, and the
Open Air Theatre[22], most of which are not located in "Theatreland", arguably enjoy greater artistic prestige. These theatres stage a higher proportion of more demanding work, including
Shakespeare, other classic plays and premieres of new plays by leading highbrow playwrights. Hit plays from the non-commercial theatres sometimes transfer to one of the commercial "Theatreland" houses for an extended second run.
Other London theatre
There is a great deal of theatre in London outside of the West End. Much of this is known as
fringe theatre which is the equivalent of
Off Broadway Theatre in
New York. Fringe venues range from well-equipped small theatres to rooms above
pubs, and the performances range from classic plays, to cabaret, to plays in the languages of London's
ethnic minorities. The performers range from emerging young professionals to amateurs.
Finally, there are also local theatres in the suburbs which stage a wide range of work, often including touring productions such as the
New Wimbledon Theatre or the
Churchill Theatre in Bromley.
Drama schools
London has several prestigious drama schools, including the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), which is by far the most famous drama school in the United Kingdom. Other equally prestigious London drama schools include the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the
Central School of Speech and Drama, as well as
Drama Centre, The
Brit School for Performing Arts,
The Poor School,
The Academy Drama School and
Colins Performing Arts College. The accrediting body for UK drama schools is The National Council for Drama Training.
[1]
Awards
There are a number of annual awards for outstanding achievements in London theatre:
★
Laurence Olivier Awards
★
Evening Standard Awards
★
London Critics' Circle Theatre Awards
★ Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards
Notable recent performers
2006
Martin Shaw,
Kevin Spacey,
Eve Best,
Derek Jacobi,
Bob Hoskins,
Alan Cumming,
Janie Dee,
Jodhi May,
Ashlee Simpson,
David Haig,
Samantha Bond,
David Bedella,
Suzanne Shaw,
Steve Pemberton,
Danny Baker,
Christopher Biggins,
Roger Lloyd Pack,
Summer Strallen,
Michael Gambon,
Jeremy Irons,
Patrick Malahide,
Cheryl Baker,
Stephen McGann,
Johnny Shentall,
Lorna Want,
Anita Dobson,
Judi Dench,
Diana Rigg,
Martin Jarvis,
Tom Conti,
David Walliams,
Matt Lucas,
David Soul,
Megan Dodds,
James Fox,
Christian Slater,
Faye Tozer,
Tim Piggott-Smith,
Dave Willetts,
Dawn French,
Linda Robson,
Jenny Eclair,
Alison Moyet,
Daniel Evans,
Jenna Russell,
Ian Richardson,
Anna Maxwell Martin,
Iain Glen,
Ian McKellen,
Timothy West,
Kathleen Turner,
Antony Costa,
Bonnie Langford,
Alex Ferns,
Patrick Swayze.
Claire Sweeney,
Amy Nuttall,
Neil Morrissey,
Sally Ann Triplett,
Adam Cooper,
Richard Dempsey,
Neve Campbell,
Matthew Modine,
Lesley Garrett,
Connie Fisher,
Reece Shearsmith,
Tim Rogers,
Alun Armstrong,
Adam Garcia,
Helen Dallimore,
Idina Menzel,
Nigel Planer,
Miriam Margolyes,
Michelle Collins,
Javine Hylton,
Camilla Beeput,
Tim Curry and
Lisa O'Hare.
2007
★ ''
All About My Mother'':
Diana Rigg,
Lesley Manville, Colin Morgan, Joanne Frogatt, Charlotte Randle
★ ''
Bad Girls - The Musical'':
David Burt,
Camilla Beeput, Julie Jupp,
Sally Dexter
★ ''
Billy Elliot The Musical'':
Sally Dexter,
James Gaddas,
Jackie Clune
★ ''
Blood Brothers'': Helen Hobson,
Steven Houghton
★ ''
Boeing Boeing'':
Frances de la Tour,
Rhea Perlman,
Tamzin Outhwaite,
Adrian Dunbar,
Amy Nuttall,
Roger Allam,
Daisy Beaumont,
Elena Roger,
Patricia Hodge,
Neil Stuke,
Kevin McNally,
Tracey-Ann Oberman,
Jennifer Ellison
★ ''
Cabaret'':
Kim Medcalf,
Honor Blackman,
James Dreyfus
★ ''
Chicago'':
Tony Hadley,
Maxwell Caulfield,
Aoife Mulholland,
Duncan James,
Kelly Osbourne, Clive Rowe, Josefina Gabrielle, Amra-Faye Wright
★ ''
Desperately Seeking Susan'':
Emma Williams, Kelly Price,
Steven Houghton
★ ''Discotivity'':
Michelle McManus
★ ''
Elling'':
John Simm
★ ''
Equus'':
Daniel Radcliffe,
Jenny Agutter,
Richard Griffiths
★ ''
Fame'':
Natalie Casey,
Ian Watkins
★ ''
Fiddler on the Roof'':
Henry Goodman
★ ''
Gaslight'':
Rosamund Pike,
Kenneth Cranham
★ ''
Glengarry Glen Ross'':
Jonathan Pryce, Aiden Gillen
★ ''
Grease'': Danny Bayne,
Susan McFadden,
Siobhan Dillon
★ ''
Guys and Dolls'':
Don Johnson,
Ben Richards,
Samantha Janus,
Amy Nuttall
★ ''
Hairspray'':
Michael Ball,
Mel Smith,
Tracey Bennett, Ben James-Ellis, Rachael Wooding, Leanne Jones
★ ''In Celebration'':
Orlando Bloom,
Tim Healy, Dearblah Malloy
★ ''
Joseph'':
Lee Mead, Preeya Kalidas
★ ''Kean'':
Anthony Sher
★ ''
King Lear'':
Ian McKellen,
Frances Barber
★ ''
Kismet'':
Michael Ball,
Faith Prince
★ ''
Little Shop of Horrors'':
Sheridan Smith,
Alistair McGowan,
Mike McShane
★ ''
Macbeth'':
Peter Duncan
★ ''
Mamma Mia!'':
Linzi Hateley
★ ''
Mary Poppins'':
Scarlett Strallen,
Gavin Creel
★ ''
Menopause the Musical'':
Su Pollard
★ ''
Monty Python's Spamalot'':
Simon Russell Beale, Hannah Waddingham,
Peter Davison,
Bill Ward
★ ''Pinter's People'':
Bill Bailey,
Geraldine McNulty
★ ''Rafta Rafta'':
Meera Syal
★ ''
Rent'':
Siobhan Doharty, Leon Lopez
★ ''
Shadowlands'':
Charles Dance,
Janie Dee
★ ''
Side by Side by Sondheim'':
Les Dennis,
Christopher Cazenove,
Angela Rippon,
Barry Cryer
★ ''
The Country Wife'':
David Haig,
Patricia Hodge,
Toby Stephens
★ ''
The Drowsy Chaperone'':
Elaine Paige,
Bob Martin,
Steve Pemberton
★ ''
The Dumb Waiter'':
Lee Evans, Jason Issacs
★ ''
The Entertainer'':
Robert Lindsay
★ ''
The Glass Menagerie'':
Jessica Lange, Ed Stoppard
★ ''
The History Boys'':
Desmond Barritt
★ ''The Last Confession'':
David Suchet
★ ''The Letter'':
Jenny Seagrove,
Anthony Andrews
★ ''
The Lord of the Rings'':
Laura Michelle Kelly, Malcolm Storry,
Jerome Pradon
★ ''
The Rocky Horror Show'':
Richard O'Brien,
Danny Baker
★ ''
The Rose Tattoo'':
Zoe Wanamaker
★ ''
The New Statesman'':
Rik Mayall
★ ''The Sea'':
David Haig,
Eileen Atkins,
Marcia Warren
★ ''
The Seagull'':
Ian McKellen,
Frances Barber
★ ''
The Vegemite Tales'':
Blair McDonough,
Jonathan Dutton
★ ''
Treats'':
Billie Piper,
Kris Marshall,
Laurence Fox
★ ''Whipping It Up'':
Richard Wilson,
Robert Bathurst
★ ''
Wicked'':
Kerry Ellis,
Helen Dallimore,
Susie Blake,
Nigel Planer,
Adam Garcia, Dianne Pilkington
Maggie Smith,
Catherine McCormack Matthew Macfadyen,
Ewan McGregor
2008
★ ''Marguerite'':
Ruthie Henshall
★ ''
The Importance of Being Earnest'':
Penelope Keith
See also
★
List of London theatres
★
List of West End musicals
★
List of notable musical theatre productions
★
Musical theatre
★
Starlight Express, the fastest musical on the West End.
External links
★
Comprehensive site for London theatre
★
Map of London's West-End theatres
★
London's campaign to promote theatre
★
UK Theatre Web covering West End and UK theatre on-line since 1995
★
Theatre.com - Covers Current London Shows
★
Official London Theatre website
★
WestEndTheatreWorld.com - Extensive Theatre Site
★
Really Useful Theatres - major London theatre operator
★
musicOMH.com - reviews of theatre productions in London's West End
★
History of London's West End Theatres
★
West End Whingers Satirical reviews of West End Theatre productions
References
1. http://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/mousetrap.html
2. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.broadway.html
3. http://www.keithprowse.com/tickets/slink.buy/broadwayworld/p.8OW/Les_Miserables--Queen's_Theatre--London.html
4. http://www.thisistheatre.com/shows/hermajestys40.html
5. http://www.thisistheatre.com/shows/phoenix99.html
6. http://www.thisistheatre.com/londontheatre/fortunetheatre.html
7. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
8. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
9. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
10. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
11. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
12. http://www.albemarle-london.com/ShowInfo.php?Show_No=43
13. http://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/mammamia.html
14. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
15. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
16. http://www.albemarle-london.com/ShowInfo.php?Show_No=43
17. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
18. http://www.world-theatres.com/longruns.html#longruns.london.html
19. http://www.albemarle-london.com/ShowInfo.php?Show_No=135
20. http://www.albemarle-london.com/ShowInfo.php?Show_No=711
21. http://www.uktw.co.uk/dl/page.php?page=details&id=V165
22. http://www.uktw.co.uk/dl/page.php?page=details&id=V403
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