Musicals
There is no greater place on the planet to witness great musicals and plays from some of the Earth’s leading talents than London’s West End. This prestigious centre for live entertainment features some of the best shows in the world, many of which have been running in the capital for decades, amassing record numbers of performances and showcasing the talents behind the scenes to millions upon millions of people.
When such musicals are not being witnessed in the West End, theatres across the country are enjoying the spectacle as touring editions of hit shows make their way to regional theatres up and down the British Isles.
But London will always be the centre for this phenomenon, having enjoyed its status as the home of theatre for centuries. West End Theatre encompasses some of the best known venues in the world, showcasing some of the greatest known shows at the same time and this is not something that people take lightly, as people travel from all quarters of the globe to make sure they find the best in theatre.
And why wouldn’t they? After all, the influence from some of these shows have reached cultures worldwide, making them cherished cultural icons that will stay in people’s hearts for centuries to come.
Take three of the best known productions currently staged in London: Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, all of which are showing at St Martin’s Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre and The Queen’s Theatre respectively. These three shows are referenced in all walks of life with homages in more recent works to parodies in hit comedy shows. In particular, the character of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera is a cultural icon, instantly recognisable in many of its guises.
The longest running show in the West End is the play The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, chronicling the plight of hotel guests when it is discovered that a murderer is within their midst. However, musicals make up a large part of the top shows.
Les Misérables is the biggest, having opened in the West End back in 1985 under the watch of Sir Cameron Mackintosh. It tells the story of Jean Valjean and his run from the law following his parole violation in 19th century France. We follow him as he stays as far away from Police Inspector Javert every step of the way. It is the longest running musical in the West End and one that has many admirers all over the world.
The third longest running show in London and the second longest running musical is The Phantom of the Opera, which first opened its door at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1986. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, tells of a murderous and scandalous composer who lurks behind the scenes of the Paris Opera House, as well as the romance between the Phantom and the singer Christine Daé. This show is so popular that a sequel entitled Love Never Dies is set to open at the Adelphi Theatre in 2010.
Another great musical that has to get a mention is Mamma Mia!, a show that takes the hit songs of ABBA and combines them with a great story. It follows the lead up to Sophie’s wedding day and the struggle she faces in finding her real father to walk he down the aisle, set to songs such as “Super Trouper” and “Mamma Mia!”.
With so much to offer around every corner, West End Theatre is a force to be reckoned with and one that will continue to draw huge crowds for many years to come.