There have been fears in recent press that theatre in London's West End may not be able to compete with the forthcoming London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics games. Andrew Lloyd Webber previously said that London 2012 would be a "bloodbath" for theatre and that most of the theatres in London would shut. But these fears were quashed recently by Richard Dickinson, the Chief Executive of the New West End Company. He said: "we just don't buy this viewpoint at all. The place will be rammed full with inbound tourists. And most of them won’t have tickets to more than one or two Olympic events. They will want to shop and visit the theatre." Lyricist Time Rice, who has collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber on shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, also believes London 2012 could help boost theatre sales. Now, a scheme called Don't Miss the Real Show in 2012 is in place. It has been working with partners including the Mayor's Office and Transport for London to dispel concerns that "the influx of Olympic visitors will keep people out of the West End." So it seems that West End theatre could still thrive during this summer, proving Lloyd Webber wrong.
For many people, a trip to the theatre can be the equivalent to a shot of endorphins. If you go to a show feeling sluggish, it takes just a few rousing numbers to bring a rush of energy back. Post-war theatre in the 40s and 50s saw the rise of the American musical with shows like Oklahoma and Annie Get Your Gun proving to be huge hits. They were optimistic shows and are still well-loved today. In recent times, we have seen shows like Crazy for You gracing the stage. Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph gave an open air version of the show a glorious review, stating, "in bad times – and times don’t get much worse than these – musical comedy thrives." He was referring to the riots in London and prevailing social and economic unrest. Now we can look forward to another morale boost with Singin In The Rain opening on the 4th February at London's Palace Theatre. It will star Adam Cooper, Daniel Crossley and Scarlet Strallen. The excitement of London 2012 has been felt throughout the UK but theatre can be equally morale-boosting.
With Olympic buzz roaring the forthcoming games have rarely been out of the press. Recently, we have seen glimpses of the Olympic village and heard the hopes of competitors. The games have yet to begin but there is already a strong fighting spirit in England's capital. Young performers from London's suburbs have been competing to be part of a cast of 900 in the opening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle. But elsewhere another young cast have been attracting the attention of theatre-goers. The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Matilda has enjoyed high ticket sales since opening on November 24th last year. The musical, adapted from Roald Dahl's novel, was written for the stage by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. Earlier this month, the RSC executive Vikki Heywood said the show had made over £7m of sales and advanced sales. She said there was no indication that there would be a dip in sales over the Olympic period.
Not all theatrical productions have enjoyed the success of Matilda. Sweeney Todd is going to take a break during the Olympic games and it might not be the only victim. So far, shows like The Wizard Of Oz are still taking bookings. But Lloyd Webber's production could be next to face the chopping block for not living up to the success of other TV talent show vehicles. That is simply the nature of theatre. Shows close all the time whether there is a major sporting event on or not. Considering the success of Matilda and play War Horse, which was recently adapted for film, there is no reason why London 2012 and West End theatre cannot co-exist. People who visit London this summer can be equally proud of the Olympic games and the array of shows the West End has to offer. Fear of a so-called "bloodbath" is nothing but theatrical hype which should stay backstage.
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