West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, United Kingdom, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland".[Christopher Innes, "West End" in The Cambridge Guide to Theatre (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), p.1194-1195. ISBN 0521434378.] 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. Total attendance numbers surpassed 13 million in 2007[TV talent shows help West End shows to record audience - Telegraph], setting a new record for the West End. 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
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 21 years, and Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, currently in its 20th 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 25 November 1952 originally at the Ambassadors Theatre[The Mousetrap London theatre tickets and information] - 55th Year. It is also the longest running show in Canada; starting on 19 August 1977 it closed on 18 January 2004 after running for 26 years.[Long Runs – Broadway, Off Broadway, London, Toronto & Other Major Cities]
Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre - opened 8 October 1985 originally at the Barbican Theatre - 23rd Year
The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre - opened 9 October 1986[Phantom of The Opera London - information on the theatre show] - 22nd Year
Cats - opened 11 May 1981 at the New London Theatre and closed 11 May 2002 on its 21st anniversary
Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre - opened 28 July 1988 originally at the Albery Theatre[Blood Brothers London - information on the theatre show] - 20th Year
The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre opened 15 February 1989 originally at the Strand Theatre[Fortune Theatre London - information and tickets] - 19th Year
Starlight Express - opened 27 March 1984 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and closed 12 January 2002[Long Runs – Broadway, Off Broadway, London, Toronto & Other Major Cities] - 17 years
No Sex Please, We're British - opened 3 June 1971 at the Strand Theatre and closed 16 January 1987
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story - opened 6 October 1995 at the Victoria Palace Theatre and closed 19 May 2002
Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre - opened 18 November 1997 originally at the Adelphi Theatre- 11th Year
The Black and White Minstrel Show - opened in 1962 at the Victoria Palace Theatre and closed about 1972
Miss Saigon - opened 20 September 1989 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and closed 30 October 1999
Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre - opened 6 April 1999 originally at the Prince Edward Theatre - 9th Year
Disney's The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre - opened 19 October 1999 - 9th Year
Jesus Christ Superstar - opened 9 August 1972 at the Palace Theatre and closed about 1980
Me and My Girl (revival) - opened 12 February 1985 at the Adelphi Theatre and closed 16 January 1993
Aldwych Farces (revue) - opened in 1925 at the Aldwych Theatre and closed in 1933 - 8 years
Evita - opened 21 January 1978 at the Prince Edward Theatre and closed on 8 February 1986
There's A Girl In My Soup - opened June 1966 at the Globe Theatre and transferred to The Comedy in 1970. It closed in 1972/3 after over a thousand performances - 6 1/2 years
Oliver! - opened in 1960 at the New Theatre and closed about 1966
We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre - 14 May 2002 - 6th Year
Stomp at the Ambassadors Theatre opened 25 September 2002 - 6th Year
London's non-commercial theatres
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, the Old Vic, the Young Vic, the Royal Court Theatre, the Almeida Theatre, and the Open Air Theatre, 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.
Theatrical schools
A number of the UK's most prestigious theatrical schools are based within the central and greater London areas. Many of these schools specialise in Drama, Dance and Musical Theatre and have an impressive number of notable and famous alumni working in West End theatre. Many of these London theatrical schools are internationally renowned and attract large number of students from around the World.
Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
ArtsEd London
Bird College of Dance, Music & Theatre Performance
Brit School for Performing Arts
Central School of Speech and Drama
English National Ballet School
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Italia Conti Academy
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
London Contemporary Dance School
;
London School of Dramatic Art
London School of Musical Theatre
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Rose Bruford College
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Music
Royal Ballet School
Sylvia Young Theatre School
The Drama Centre
The Poor School
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
West End Cares Awards
Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards
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 Pigott-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, Aoife Mulholland, 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
Absurd Person Singular: Jane Horrocks, Jenny Seagrove, John Gordon Sinclair, David Bamber, David Horovitch
Alex: Robert Bathurst
All About My Mother: Diana Rigg, Lesley Manville, Colin Morgan, Joanne Frogatt, Charlotte Randle
A Night in November: Patrick Kielty
: David Burt, Camilla Beeput, Helen Fraser, 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, Jean Marsh
Cabaret: Kim Medcalf, Honor Blackman, James Dreyfus, Amy Nuttall, Julian Clary
Chicago: Tony Hadley, Maxwell Caulfield, Aoife Mulholland, Duncan James, Kelly Osbourne, Clive Rowe, Josefina Gabrielle, Amra-Faye Wright, Bonnie Langford
Dealer's Choice: Roger Lloyd Pack, Samuel Barnett, Malcolm Sinclair
Desperately Seeking Susan: Emma Williams, Kelly Price, Steven Houghton
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, Aidan Gillen, Matthew Marsh
Grease: Danny Bayne, Susan McFadden, Siobhan Dillon
Guys and Dolls: Don Johnson, Ben Richards, Samantha Janus, Amy Nuttall
Hairspray: Michael Ball, Mel Smith, Tracie Bennett, Ben James-Ellis, Rachael Wooding, Leanne Jones
In Celebration: Orlando Bloom, Tim Healy, Lynda Baron, Dearblah Malloy
Joseph: Lee Mead, Preeya Kalidas
Kean: Anthony Sher
King Lear: Ian McKellen, Frances Barber, Sylvester McCoy
Kismet: Michael Ball, Faith Prince
Little Shop of Horrors: Sheridan Smith, Alistair McGowan, Mike McShane
Macbeth: Peter Duncan
Macbeth: Patrick Stewart
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
Much Ado About Nothing: Zoe Wanamaker, Simon Russell Beale
Othello: Ewan McGregor, Chitewel Ejifor
Pinter's People: Bill Bailey, Geraldine McNulty
Rafta Rafta: Meera Syal
Rent: Denise van Outen, Siobhan Donaghy, Leon Lopez
Shadowlands: Charles Dance, Janie Dee
Side by Side by Sondheim: Les Dennis, Christopher Cazenove, Angela Rippon, Barry Cryer
Swimming with Sharks: Christian Slater, Helen Baxendale, Matt Smith
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, Amanda Hale, Mark Umbers
The History Boys: Desmond Barritt, Stephen Campbell Moore
The Icons in London: Greg London
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, Suzanne Shaw
The Rose Tattoo: Zoe Wanamaker
The New Statesman: Rik Mayall
The Seagull: Ian McKellen, Frances Barber, William Gaunt
The Sound Of Music: Connie Fisher, Aoife Mulholland
The Vegemite Tales: Blair McDonough, Jonathan Dutton
Treats: Billie Piper, Kris Marshall, Laurence Fox
War Horse: Paul Chequer
Whipping It Up: Richard Wilson, Robert Bathurst
Wicked: Kerry Ellis, Dianne Pilkington, Helen Dallimore, Susie Blake, Nigel Planer, Adam Garcia
2008
Absurd Person Singular: Jane Horrocks, Jenny Seagrove, John Gordon Sinclair, David Bamber, David Horovitch
Billy Elliot The Musical: Jackie Clune, James Gaddas
Blood Brothers: Helen Hobson, Lyn Paul
Cabaret: Amy Nuttall, Julian Clary, Alistair McGowan
Chicago: Duncan James, Clive Rowe, Bonnie Langford, Brenda Edwards, Zee Asha, Suzanne Shaw
Dealer's Choice: Roger Lloyd Pack, Samuel Barnett, Malcolm Sinclair
Fat Pig: Kris Marshall, Robert Webb, Joanna Page
Fiddler on the Roof: Henry Goodman
Grease: Danny Bayne, Susan McFadden, Siobhan Dillon, Ray Quinn, Natalie Griffiths, Clare Ryder
Hairspray: Michael Ball, Mel Smith, Tracie Bennett, Ben James-Ellis, Rachael Wooding, Leanne Jones, Ian Talbot
Hamlet: David Tennant, Patrick Stewart
Ivanov: Kenneth Brannagh
Jersey Boys: Glenn Carter, Ryan Molloy, Amy Pemberton
Joseph: Lee Mead, Lewis Bradley
Marguerite: Ruthie Henshall, Alexander Hanson
Mamma Mia!: Linzi Hateley
Mary Poppins: Scarlett Strallen, Gavin Creel
Mind Reader: Derren Brown
Monty Python's Spamalot: Hannah Waddingham, Peter Davison, Bill Ward, Marin Mazzie, Alan Dale, Sanjeev Bhaskar
Much Ado About Nothing: Zoe Wanamaker, Simon Russell Beale
Never Forget: Teddy Kempner, Dean Chisnall
Oedipus: Ralph Fiennes
Oliver!: Rowan Atkinson, Burn Gorman, Harry Stott, Gwion Jones, Laurence Jeffcoate, Jodie Prenger
Othello: Ewan McGregor, Chitewel Ejifor, Kelly Reilly
Pygmalion: Tim Pigott-Smith
Rent: Jessie Wallace, Siobhan Donaghy, Leon Lopez
Shadowlands: Charles Dance, Janie Dee, John Standing
Speed-the-Plow: Kevin Spacey, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Michelle Kelly
That Face: Lindsay Duncan, Matt Smith, Hannah Murray
The 39 Steps: Josefina Gabrielle
The God of Carnage: Ralph Fiennes, Janet McTeer, Ken Stott, Tamsin Greig
The History Boys: Desmond Barritt
The Importance of Being Earnest: Penelope Keith
The Lord of the Rings: Laura Michelle Kelly, Malcolm Storry, Jerome Pradon
The Mikado: Alistair McGowan
The Pirates of Penzance: Jo Brand
The Sea: David Haig, Eileen Atkins, Marcia Warren, Russell Tovey
The Sound of Music: Connie Fisher, Aoife Mulholland, Summer Strallen
The Vortex: Felicity Kendal, Dan Stevens, Annette Badland
The Wizard of Oz: Gary Wilmot
The Year of Magical Thinking: Vanessa Redgrave
Twelfth Night: Derek Jacobi
Under the Blue Sky: Catherine Tate
War Horse: Paul Chequer
Wicked: Kerry Ellis, Dianne Pilkington, Susie Blake, Nigel Planer, Harriet Thorpe, Desmond Barrit, Alexia Khadime
Zorro: Emma Williams, Matt Rawle
2009
Hamlet: Jude Law
Madame de Sade: Dame Judi Dench
See also
List of London theatres
List of West End musicals
List of notable musical theatre productions
Musical theatre
External links
Society of London Theatre - trade body for the London theatre industry
History of London's West End Theatres
West End Whingers Satirical reviews of West End Theatre productions
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