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Dorrit’s Sir Tom attacks ‘too many’ musicals in West End
Aline Nassif17.11.08
VETERAN stage actor Sir Tom Courtenay has criticised the dominance of musicals in the West End.
The 71-year-old, who is appearing as William Dorrit in the BBC1 adaptation of Dickens' Little Dorrit, says it is a "shame" that plays have lost out to musicals. "In my day we learned to tread the boards, which is what we wanted, and there were lots of plays on the West End stage," he said. "Now it's all musicals, which is a shame."
Sir Tom shot to fame in the Sixites with a succession of critically-acclaimed films including Billy Liar and Dr Zhivago.
But the actor, who was awarded a knighthood in 2001, told the Radio Times he had no desire to return to the stage.
Reader views (4)
Musicals are wounderous and fantastic and people want escapism for a few hours.
I've seen some of the plays in the West End and quite frankly you may as well watch Eastenders because many of them are so depressing and people don't want to see every day life when they go out for night out.
At the moment I believe Andrew Lloyd Webber only has two musicals on at the moment Jason Technicolor Dreamcoat and Phantom of the Opera so how is he dominating the West End.
- Yuri Naraine, East Ham, London
Theatre audiences are changing and it is no good putting on productions that people do not want to see, no matter how worthy they are.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England
I agree with him, in contrast with the bit-part actor 'Anon UK'! I loathe musicals but love plays and the West End has been dominated by Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice for at least 15 years: a better balance would be nice.
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Sour grapes cos he can't sing and why is he not retired and let a younger person have a chance, he should be lucky he is still employed and support the others in his profession who are on stage.
- Anon, UK
