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Theatre doors shut as musicals and credit crunch take hold
Terry Kirby01.08.08
Five leading West End theatres are in darkness amid fears that traditional plays are being squeezed out of theatreland by the economic downturn and an excess of musicals.
Only seven non-musical plays are being staged in the West End at the moment, including two long-running productions, The Mousetrap and The Woman In Black.
This compares with 24 musicals, such as Mamma Mia! and Dirty Dancing, which helped fuel last year's record box office takings of £470 million in the West End.
Three of the temporarily shut theatres, the Apollo, the Lyric and the Gielgud, are in Shaftsbury Avenue. The other two are the Comedy and the Novello.
Playwright Alan Ayckbourn has said he believes "straight" plays are "doomed" due to a decline in regional theatre. Leading producer Bill Kenwright is said to have almost given up on them because of losses sustained on previous productions. Evening Standard theatre critic Nicholas de Jongh writes in today's paper: "There is a danger the West End may soon become a virtual Disneyland, festooned with musicals, many theatres converted to house stand-up comedy shows, cabaret, lap-dancing or casinos."
But Terri Paddock of Whatsonstage.com said: "We just have to think differently. The shape of the theatre world has changed beyond recognition.'' She pointed out that summer was traditionally a quiet time for all theatres.
Ms Paddock added: "The theatre is being affected by the economy because audiences will always see it as a way to tighten spending."
Nica Burns, chief executive of Nimax Theatres, which owns the Apollo and Lyric, said: "When times are hard, people are more likely to spend what little money they have on being cheered up by a musical."
The Apollo will reopen at the end of this month with Josh Hartnett in Rain Man. Ms Burns said: "We have budgeted for the Apollo to be closed for refurbishment until Rain Man opens and advance sales are very good.
"The West End has always been a mix of plays, musical and other entertainment. It has got harder to produce a straight play, as opposed to a musical, mainly because television has created a shortage of theatre actors.
"But it is a cyclical thing and next year we might see more plays than at the moment and London's theatres announcing record profits again."
The Gielgud, which is owned by Cameron Mackintosh, will reopen in September with a transfer from Chichester of Rupert Goold's acclaimed production of Six Characters In Search Of An Author by Luigi Pirandello, starring Ian McDiarmid.
The Novello will reopen on 9 September with a musical, Eurobeat, and return to presenting plays with the Royal Shakespeare Company's winter season, opening with Patrick Stewart and David Tennant in Hamlet at the end of the year.
The Lyric's next show is Flamenco Flamen'ka, which begins previews on 18 September. The Comedy's last show, Dickens Unplugged, closed early.
Reader views (16)
Maybe the closing down of many theatres in the West End, will result more people going to support of what could be the backbone of theatre land......the Fringe Theatres.
I have been lucky in my life to have had three plays, one a musical, produced in the Bush theatre. Long may she offer great works to new writers also new customers.
- Jaberwokie3, switzerland
Mr warner's rant against my city should be put in its place - please stay in leafy Henley.
- C Davies, sw15
In general there is nothing at all wrong with musicals some are obviously good and some are not so good....like musicals also like straight plays and go to various theatres at least once a month.
As far as plays are concerned it is not very surprising that people have or are losing interest as the acting ability of many is poor to say the least. No doubt at all we have good actors and actresses but we also have terrible types often (generally) from t.v. programmes who are awful on the stage.
As a number of people have said the prices are ridiculous (no doubt the pay to many of the alleged "actors" is also ridiculous). The cost of drinks is probably so dear that it might break a law!
In many cases if people are over 5'6" the seating is uncomfortable.
There is little doubt that one way or another it is the theatrical professionals that are causing the loss of interest of many.
- Ed, London
Theatres are hot and cramped, and the seats vastly over-priced. Many shows are illiterate rubbish. Train journeys to and from London is crowded, dirty and expensive. The car is unwelcome. Restaurants are an expensive joke. The tube is a vile experience to be avoided at all costs. London itself is a dirty, litter strewn, crime-ridden, crowded dump. And so the theatres deserve what they get - no punters.
- Robert Warner, Henley-on-Thames, England
The cost of the tickets, the cost of the programme, the cost of in-theatre drinks and snacks, the cost of car parking in London with the possible congestion fee, the cost of British rail as an alternative to the car, the cost of London transport even with an oyster card, all very unreasonably high the only value seems the nearby restaurants no wonder we all go far less then we used to and may now view a visit as a special occasion rather then a regular feature in our every day lives. Maybe somebody should explain to the people who determined the prices that higher prices often lead to far fewer sales and lower profits. How many people now seem to arrive with a packet of sweets bought from Tesco's on the Strand rather then buy an amazingly over priced ice cream with very limited choice at the theatre.
- Terry, essex, uk
Theatres have an arrogance towards their clients which is so negative. I would go to the theatre (with my family) so much more frequently if I didn't think I was having to write off over £150 for a simple night in the West End.
- Alan Potter, London, UK
I was shocked to see the Lyric on this list - I've just been to see their latest show - Flamenco Flamen'ka - it's one of the best dance shows I've seen - it's brave, free, has a spontaneity and a life force that often seems to be drilled out of slick W/E performances. This is a magnificent, creative showcase for flamenco and the fiery, passionate Latin spirit, that quivers with gutsy street dynamism. The prospect that a theatre like the Lyric, with shows like this flowing out of its veins, is facing this situation is sad indeed.
- Lee Knights, London
Theatre tickets are ridiculously expensive, as is getting to the theatre,extortionate bar tarrifs and ludicrous programme prices.
What about some special offers? Perhaps Mr Easy Jet can come in with some marketing suggestions?
- William Grierson, Kimpton, UK
Perhaps if they brought down prices the theatres would be fuller. Prioritise, mortgages and food on the table, clothes on our backs come first. True to say some theatres have priced themselves out of the market for home grown audiences and forget tourists because it's to expensive to come here anyway.
- Linda Harris, London, UK.
Who wants a Wesr End bereft of all its theatres? Fads come and go and this one will play itself out.
Ed: Why do I have to keep scrolling up and down much more on this new website? It's a star performace all of its own!
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Muildenhall, Suffolk
My wife and I just returned from an 8 day holiday to London. We saw 6 West End productions and one play at the Churchill in Bromley. We have been annual visitors since 1984 and always try to see at least 6 plays on each holiday.
Our favorite period of time for theater going was in the '80s and early '90s. It seemed there were many stars, Donald Sinden, Penelope Keith, Felicity Kendall, Ray Cooney,to name but a few who performed or wrote on a regular basis. Now it is difficult to see a 'straight' play no matter who is the lead or the author.
This past holiday left us a bit disappointed that we had the same musicals to choose from and not enough dramas or comedies, farces, etc. to choose from.
With that bit of pessimisim out of the way, I'll end by saying that the business end of the theater will have to make smart decisions to stay in business. I believe there are enough of us to cater to that perhaps they will start to go back to serious theater.
- John & Suzanne Fuhrman, Las Vegas, Nevada
There's simply an over-concentration of theatre in one area. The Hackney Empire is always packed when I've been there (for English Touring Opera, which caters for my ethnic tastes as a white British male, Mr Whitaker, as well as many other peoples' on other nights). Central London is so sated with events that people are jaded merely making the choice. I can think of many occasions encountering eg. free jazz in the foyer at the National or Barbican, and thinking it an irritating distraction from the play or concert I was going to, while also thinking that I'd happily pay good money to see the same act in Walthamstow, where we have no cinema, and the Council is trying to demolish the only theatre.
If London could swap half a dozen central theatres for the same number on the periphery, like the excellent Churchill in Bromley, the situation would be healthier.
- Mdj, Leyton, e10 london
I have stopped going to the West End as not liking musicals there is very little to see. If you want straight plays and comedies go to Richmond, Bromley, Greenwich or Wimbledon. Hackney Empire disappoints as such a fine theatre is being wasted on ethnic and community shows. It should be used for West End tryouts.
- Ernest Whittaker, London, UK
I come to London every year--sometimes more--mainly for its excellent theater. By which I mean serious theater--the only place where one can see a new play every night and not run out of things to see for weeks. Until now. When I booked my upcoming September trip, I was appalled at how few choices there were. Really, I don't care if I ever see Mama Mia again. It is heartbreaking that such established venues as the Appollo and the Lyric lay dormant. And 2 of the 7 plays that are in production are--like the musicals--ones everyone has already seen (perhaps more than once).
It is terrifying to think that the wellspring of art and culture as we know it may be drying up, in favor of the glib and guilded quick fix. I am saddened beyond measure.
- Georgiana, Seattle, Washington
I'm often in London and my passion is for the musical. Theatreland is a market place like any other and if more people wish to go and see a straight play, they will. I do once a year maybe but I'll see 10 musicals.
It's down to culture and education. The plays will survive but tourists come to be entertained in the way they want, hence to growth in popularity of the musical.
- Gerry Bateson, Durham City... UK
The Novello is not closed at the moment. It has Into The Hoods until the end of August, then Eurobeat and the RSC.
I'm sure this type of story gets written every year. Usually over the summer there's a clear out of theatres and they're closed for a few weeks before new shows come in the autumn.
- Steve, London
