LET’S SING and dance our way through the downturn. That seems to be the message from London’s Theatreland, which enjoyed it’s most lucrative year ever in 2007, according to new Society of London Theatre figures, and the bulk of that bounty went to musicals.
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For the first time in history, last year more than 13 million tickets (13.6 million in total) were sold for West End shows. Approximately 8.3 million of those tickets were for musicals, with Grease and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat leading the way.
Audiences are still on the upturn in 2008. In the first six months of this year, the ticket harvest was 2.3 per cent up on last year’s bumper crop.
“The story this year is of a vibrant sector,” said Paul James, Commercial Manager of the SOLT. “I think we are set fair for an excellent year.”
Later this year, big name shows like Hamlet, starring Doctor Who’s David Tennent, Rain Man, with Josh Hartnett and Oliver! look likely to keep the party swinging.
We like to think we’ve done our own bit for the cause. Thousands of tickets were sold through LondonNet during 2007 and they’re selling fast this year, too.
