| London's West End and theatre district continues | | | | for Most Popular Show, which is the only category |
| to perform well against a backdrop of economic | | | | voted entirely for by the public, was reintroduced. |
| uncertainty. Figures show that ticket sales for | | | | Over 60,000 votes were cast for this category |
| London musicals have risen for the seventh | | | | alone, with the hit musical Wicked topping the list. |
| consecutive year, boosted by star casts and top | | | | Other winners on the night included: |
| shows. London musicals continue to attract both | | | | * Best Actress - Rachel Weisz for A Streetcar |
| audiences and awards, and a packed programme | | | | Named Desire |
| of events to encourage new theatregoers looks | | | | * Best Actor - Mark Rylance for Jerusalem |
| set to help continue the trend. | | | | * Best New Musical - Spring Awakening |
| Ticket sales to West End shows topped | | | | * Best Costume Design - Priscilla, Queen Of The |
| 500,000,000 in 2009, making it a record-breaking | | | | Desert The Musical |
| year for London theatre. With ticket sales up 7.6 | | | | West End London Musicals Involved in Exciting |
| percent on figures for the previous year, | | | | Annual Events |
| attendance to plays, musicals, opera and dance at | | | | Although figures show that there are large |
| London's West End theatres was also up, by 5.5 | | | | numbers of returning audiences to London |
| percent, during the same period. | | | | musicals in the West End, there is also a strong |
| Record Year for West End Theatre Tickets | | | | emphasis on encouraging new theatre-goers. A |
| This was the seventh year in a row that new | | | | number of initiatives and special events are |
| theatre attendance and revenue records were | | | | planned throughout the year to make theatre |
| set in London's West End. Out of all types of | | | | tickets more affordable and performances more |
| entertainment, London musicals by far drew in the | | | | fun. |
| largest crowds, with plays the second most | | | | Get into London Theatre takes place during the |
| popular. | | | | first three months of the year, with discounted |
| A recent study by the Society of London | | | | tickets to over 55 top London shows and a |
| Theatre suggested that high audience satisfaction | | | | programme of workshops. It's a fantastic |
| may be a key driver behind the success of these | | | | opportunity to book cheap tickets to some of the |
| sales figures. The report revealed: | | | | best London musicals. This year's event was a |
| * 93 percent of London theatre audiences were | | | | huge success, with more than 65,000 theatre |
| happy with the performance they attended, with | | | | tickets sold. |
| 75 percent rating it as 'very good' | | | | Children can experience the magic of London |
| * 83 percent thought their ticket represented | | | | theatre for free during Kids Week. Now in its 13th |
| good value for money | | | | year, Kids Week will take place from 13- 27 |
| * 80 percent of London theatre-goers saw a | | | | August 2010. As well as free tickets for children |
| West End performance more than once a year | | | | aged 5-16, there are a fantastic range of free |
| West End Stars Shine in London Theatre Awards | | | | activities and events, from behind the scenes |
| The winners of the 2012 Laurence Olivier Awards | | | | tours to puppet workshops. |
| were recently announced in a glittering, | | | | See the world's largest free theatre festival in |
| star-studded ceremony, which was broadcast live | | | | London's Leicester Square on 19-20 June at West |
| on BBC Radio 2. The awards, which are now in | | | | End LIVE 2010. Full details of the event are yet to |
| their 34th year, are voted for by the public and a | | | | be announced but you can expect to see great |
| professional panel to reward excellence on the | | | | performances from London's most popular |
| London stage. | | | | musicals. |
| For the first time since 2002 the Audience Award | | | | |