The West End Theatre

Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:02

London guide - London attractions

The West End of London is one of the most vibrant places in the city. It hosts some of the major tourist attractions, business enterprises and ofcourse, just like Broadway in New York, the world reknowned theatres. The West End used to be known as the elite part of the city because it was located near the important part of Westminster and was away from the smoky, working class areas.

Nowadays however the term The West End mainly refers to all the theatres and shows but as a location it covers quite a lot of the city. all the way from Nightsbridge and South Kensington to Holborn and Marylebone. Some of the famous streets in this area include Bond Street and Oxford Street and their designer labels, Prak Lane and Piccadilly and their famous hotels and Shaftesbury Avenue and The Strand and the shining bright lights of their theatres.

If yoù are visiting London one thing you should definitley make time for is a West End show. Like most production companies the standard is brilliant and the shows are cery well produced, so not only will you see a wonderful display of acting, music and dance but you will also experience the wonderful buzz around the West End theatres. Many actors start in the West End before they get their big break into film, and similarly many resort back to the stage after a film career as a mark of their talent and diversity. The stage is undboutedly a harder place to act, as the audience is right there with you and you have to project your acting in one direction, and as a resullt it is a mark of prestige and accomplishment. For musical performers the West End is also a mark of the pinnacle of their carreer as there are much fewer musical films and as a result you are surrounded by talent and ambition.

Some of the  most famous and longest running shows in the West End include: Les Misérables, Oliver!, Mamma Mia!, Starlight Express, Buddy, Chicago, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King. In the West End you can find the more serious plays adapted from best-sellers like Susan Hill's Woman in Black or the more fun and modern Disney adaptations like Hairspray. Whatever you are looking for you will be able to find something for everyone. But if you have no idea what each play is about you can aim for the more famous theatres and you are bound to get a great show. The most well know theatres include: The Adelphi Theatre, The Apollo Theatre, Royal Opera House, and The London Palladium.

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