Fueled by ticket sales for Trevor Nunn’s upcoming production of Gone with the Wind musical which opens next April and (though I hate to say it) the popularity of British reality TV casting shows such as Grease Is The Word and Any Dream Will Do, West End theatre is on course for a record year with takings currently 14 per cent up on last year’s box office-busting results.

According to This is London: “An autumn line-up of stars including Christian Slater, Charles Dance, Sir Ian McKellen and Jonathan Pryce in dramas should draw crowds as well as answer critics of the number of musicals in the West End. Patrick Stewart, who has received rave reviews as Macbeth, has already pulled in extraordinary advance sales.”

“Although fewer musicals this autumn would mean a dip in takings on the same time last year - not least because musicals tend to be in bigger venues - Richard Pulford, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre was cautiously confident records would be set by the end of the year.”

With the looming stagehands’ union lockout/strike looming, revenue may not be looking so good on this side of the pond. Negotiations have been extended through Thursday, but there is still concern about the potential shutdown a contractual gridlock could cause.

Related Articles:

• Patrick Stewart's Macbeth: Foul or Fair?
• Candy Denouncing Candy

Write a comment