London
has arguably the largest range of evening entertainment on offer in any city in
Europe. Londoners and visitors are spoilt for choice with restaurants offering
every cuisine possible, live music performances and nightclubs catering to all
tastes and interests, but what makes London so special to me is London’s
Theatreland.
With
around 40 theatres operating in London’s West End (the area between Oxford
Street to the north, the Strand to the south, Regent Street to the west and
Kingsway to the east) you can be transported to another time or place for the
evening at relatively little cost. With so much variety there is a show to suit
every taste. Famous screen actors often feature in classic plays such as Patrick
Stewart, Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Orlando Bloom, Matt Damon, Jude
Law and Kevin Spacey. The classic theatre productions are also a good place to
observe Britain’s favourite actors such as Celia Imrie, Imelda Staunton and
Bill Nighy at work.
(Britain’s acting royalty also often star in high-brow classic theatre
productions in London’s more modern theatres, and if you’re a fan of
Shakespeare then the Globe Theatre will please you, but that’s another post!)
London’s
theatreland does not only cater to those seeking classic entertainment.
Musicals varying from the dramatic Phantom of the Opera to the
all-singing-all-dancing Lion King are also available. It is not uncommon to see
B-list celebrities, such as those that have been runner-up in the latest series
of X-factor, take lead roles in the ‘fun’ musicals such as Grease.
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| Musical 'Grease' showing in London's West End, UK |
The
length of time productions run is based on ticket sales and some London shows
in the West End have been running for years. The Mousetrap is the longest
running and has been performed in London since 1952. Les Miserables has been
running since 1985, The Phantom of the Opera since 1986 and The Woman in Black
since 1989.
It
is not all about the shows though. Most of London’s West End theatres are of
Victorian or Edwardian design and offer much by way of architecture to admire.
Seeing a show can be a little like stepping back in history when you access the
auditorium via the narrow twisting staircases, experience the lack of legroom
in the stalls and the steep view from the nosebleed seats at the top of the
theatre (often the cheapest seats).
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| Her Majesty's Theatre in London, UK, has been showing Phantom of the Opera since 1986 |
During
the interval vendors selling ice creams and snacks appear in the auditorium. It
is also possible to head to the theatre bar for a drink. If you need the
facilities, get there quickly as the old theatres are short on space and there
will rarely be more than two stalls available, making queues inevitable.
When
performances end London theatres disgorge their audiences into the streets,
often chattering about the performance they have just seen, and from there they
head home or on to nearby bars and restaurants. London is a city that never
sleeps and the curtain falls on the show but not the night.
If
you have your heart set on a particular production and limited time in London
it is worth booking your ticket in advance. If you are more flexible you can
buy tickets a few days or hours in advance from websites or ticket booths
around the city. With ticket prices starting from around £10 you may want to
see more than one show!
Photo credits: Andy Roberts, Ben Sutherland, Elliott Brown
