London's West End

The area of London known as the West End isrepresent a sparkling endorsement of both the
actually about as central as it is possible to be inWest End and the medium of the musical: The
the capital. It is wedged between three majorPhantom of the Opera, Evita, Jesus Christ,
parks, the Thames and the City of London, and isSuperstar, Joseph, Aspects of Love, Cats and
the commercial heartbeat of the city, with BondStarlight Express is a small sample of household
Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street beingname shows. Even seemingly unlikely candidates
its most famous shopping areas. Embassies,such as Ben Elton have proved to be talented
government, media and top hotels are basedwriters of musicals for the West End, and
here. But when people refer in common parlanceluminaries such as Stephen Sondheim and Rogers
the the West End, they are usually talking about& Hammerstein regularly have had their work
the theaters and playhouses - and the shows thatperformed here.
make them famous - in much the same way asNotable adaptations
Broadway is used as a general term for the NewIn skilful hands, a book, film, play or biography can
York equivalent. The district's theatres arebe adapted to be a musical - and vice versa. The
numerous, and are well known for hosting theSound of Music was a successful stage musical
grandest, most lavish and best loved shows aslong before it became the Christmas perennial we
well as putting on plays that feature A-list namesall know and love, and its songs have become
from not just the UK but also Hollywood andiconic. Indeed, My Favourite Things has become a
beyond.jazz standard, and a recent BBC talent show was
World famous namesbased around finding the perfect Maria for a stage
You do not have to be a Londoner to have heardproduction.
of the names that typify the West EndThe music of Abba was made into the 1999 hit
experience: Oxford Street, Strand, Shaftesburymusical Mamma Mia! And is one of the world's top
Avenue, Drury Lane, Kingsway and the Southgrossing musicals, no doubt partly due to the
Bank are synonymous with performance. Namesenduringly popular songs, and a film version is set
like Dominion, Palladium, Coliseum, Adelphi, Lyceumto continue this success.
and the Royal Opera House have obviousA musical made from a book that is a prequel of
connotations, and because such venues representan adaptation of another book can also succeed!
the ultimate goal of every ambitious and talentedThis is demonstrated by Wicked, a musical based
performer, the shows and productions are amongon the early life of the Wicked Witch of the
the most critically acclaimed in the world. SomeWest, a character in The Wizard of Oz, the 1939
West End shows have made themselves themovie of a 1900 book ...
most thrilling, memorable and commerciallyIf a musical is creative, imaginative and features
successful works of art in history, and countlessevocative songs, success at the West End could
examples have toured, wowing fans the worldwell leave its cultural mark on generations to
over. The shows of Andrew Lloyd Webber alonecome.