West End theatres enjoy record attendance

25/07/2008

Over 13 million people attended shows in London’s West End in 2007 – a record number.

The findings from the Society of London Theatre 2007 Box Office Data Report are sure to please West End theatre producers, especially in light of the much-publicised credit crunch, which could threaten “luxury” expenditures such as West End shows.

So what is behind the surge in popularity of London’s West End? One reason could be the increasing number of televised competitions with parts in West End musicals as prizes. The BBC's I’d Do Anything is one such show that is credited with helping to attract a younger audience and boosting the popularity of musicals.

The Sound of Music is another West End show that cast its lead role via a television contest, in this case How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria. When its winner, Connie Fisher, left the show, producer Andrew Lloyd Webber found a new way to capture the public’s interest: he placed his leading lady in the TV soap Hollyoaks, playing the role of a wannabe musical star. Lloyd Webber made a cameo in the soap, whereby he casts the lady – played by actress Summer Strallen – in The Sound of Music. The actress then left Hollyoaks and took her place within the real-life cast in the West End.

As long as London’s theatres continue to find new and innovative ways to attract audiences, it’s possible this year’s box office figures could be just as healthy as last year’s.


A trip to London is not complete without watching a West End show, according to one travel expert.

Ian Rumgay, European communications manager at travel site TripAdvisor said West End shows should "definitely" be on the schedule for anyone visiting London this summer.

"You still have to look after the pennies and you can get some good deals if you shop around, look on the internet, auction sites and last minute offers," he commented.

He added that the West End had something to offer theatre-lovers of all ages, with a number of shows taking place nightly, from The Sound of Music to Dirty Dancing.

According to the The Society of London Theatre 2007 Box Office Data Report – released this month – a record 13.6 million people attended West End shows over the course of last year.

Mr Rumgay noted that television shows such as the BBC's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria had helped to attract a younger audience and boosted the popularity of musicals.