There’s still a small amount of time left to book  Christmas or New Year theatre breaks but the choice of shows left will keep getting tighter the longer you leave it. Theatre Breaks in the Holidays January is a peak time for West End theatres in general but specific dates around the school holidays always have a high demand and booking tickets only will very soon become impossible for most of the popular musicals and plays.  Not everybody realizes though, that theatre breaks packages will still be available for top shows with good seats and plush central London hotels, long after the scramble for individual seats has subsided. That’s because the holiday and theatre breaks companies block book seats in advance and have prority arrangements with the hotel groups, In this way they can still offer top  seats for London theatres and best affordable rooms in the most convenient hotels for a price that is nearly always better value than that you could put together yourself, even if the dates you wanted were still available. Top Musicals for Theatre Breaks So which are the top five musicals for theatre breaks in London this season? Top new musical for 2011 is GHOST with fabulous rock music by Dave Stewart Ghost

musical: Ghost

starring: Richard Fleeshman, CAISSIE LEVY, SHARON D CLARKE

Book Now: Ghost theatre breaks

opening night:24 June 2011 booking until 13 October 2012.

Top Family Musical, also new for 2011 is MATILDA Based on Roald Dahl’s dramatic novel.

musical: Matilda The Musical

starring: Paul Kaye

Book Now: Matilda The Musical theatre breaks

opening night:25/11/2011 booking until 12th February 2012

LAST CHANCE! Priscilla Theatre Breaks  

musical: Priscilla Queen of the Desert

starring: Ray Meagher

Book Now: Priscilla Queen of the Desert theatre breaks

opening night:March 10 2009 booking until 31/12/2011

Perennial Favourite Wicked Theatre Breaks  

musical: Wicked!

starring: Rachel Tucker

Book Now: Wicked! theatre breaks

opening night:2006 booking until Open Ended

More Wizards and Witches in the West End Wizard of Oz Theatre Breaks  

musical: The Wizard of Oz

starring: Danielle Hope

Book Now: The Wizard of Oz theatre breaks

opening night:March 1st 2011 booking until Sunday October 28th 2012

This week’s new theatre includes a Mike Leigh play, Shakespeare, David Eldridge and more. London theatres mentioned are in Islington, the Almeida, Hampstead Theatre

This article titled “This week’s new theatre” was written by Mark Cook & Lyn Gardner, for The Guardian on Saturday 5th March 2011 00.07 UTC Ecstasy, London So successful has Mike Leigh been as a film director, with international hits such as Secrets And Lies and the most recent, Another Year, that it’s easy to forget he started out in theatre. He’s still best known for the cult play Abigail’s Party, which premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1977. Leigh, using his improvisational approach, has staged three more plays at Hampstead, and now he returns to direct one of them. Ecstasy is set in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher is set to change the country. In a north London bedsit, political turmoil is reflected in the maelstrom of a group of friends. Expect pain and humour in equal measure. Hampstead Theatre, NW3, Thu to 9 Apr Mark Cook The Cleansing Of Constance Brown, Birmingham Who is Constance, and how can she be everywhere and nowhere at the same time? In Stan’s Cafe’s intriguing show, first seen back in 2007 and performed without words in a 14 metre-long corridor, Constance is a mysterious presence. She’s the figure just glimpsed at the edge of the frame in a TV news story, the unidentified figure in a painting or photograph of famous people, the person nobody notices as momentous events unfurl. The corridor is the corridor of history, where the Tudor maid and the Jewish victim of the Nazis co-exist and where women are peripheral to the power machinations of men. But Constance is always there, a silent witness, unnoticed but taking note. AE Harris Factory, to 19 Mar Lyn Gardner The Knot In The Heart, London David Eldridge returns to the Almeida with a world premiere, the first since his adaptation of the Danish film Festen, which went on to conquer the West End and Broadway. He seems to have a penchant for the Scandinavians, having translated three of Ibsen’s works, but on this occasion his new play is rooted in the here and now – in fact it all takes place within a mile of the Islington theatre. The Knot Of The Heart stars Lisa Dillon – recently at the Old Vic in Design For Living and A Flea In Her Ear – as Lucy, a successful children’s TV presenter who seemingly has always had everything but gets addicted to heroin and finds her life beginning to unravel. The part was written for Dillon, and is unusual in that the character is not defined by her relationship with men. The play is ultimately about love but, says director Michael Attenborough, it defies stereotypes. Almeida Theatre, N1, Thu to 30 Apr MC From Newbury With Love, Newbury Red Cape’s The Idiot Colony, about women incarcerated and forgotten in mental asylums, put them on the map in 2008, and this new piece was also inspired by a true story. In 1971, at the height of the cold war, 73-year-old Newbury resident Harold Edwards and his wife, Olive, sent a postcard to seven-year-old Marina, the daughter of an imprisoned Soviet dissident. The result of a letter-writing campaign by Amnesty International, it led to a 15-year correspondence between the families that lasted until Harold died. By then Marina was 24. The production draws on the original letters, which were a lifeline to Marina and her family in the knowledge that there was somebody who cared about their plight. Corn Exchange, Wed to 12 Mar LG The Tempest, Stratford-upon-Avon Once seen, never forgotten, Little Angel Theatre’s collaboration with the RSC on Venus And Adonis even had hardened theatre critics professing a love of puppets. Here, Little Angel tackles Shakespeare’s late play in a shortened version for children and adults. Playwright Phil Porter has adapted the original and Peter Glanville’s production makes use of puppetry and music to create the magical isle where Prospero rules by magic. The fantastical nature of the story should lend itself well to puppetry in what should be a spellbinding spectacle. Swan, Fri to 26 Mar LG Yerma, Leeds Surprisingly, West Yorkshire Playhouse has never produced a play by Federico García Lorca, and this new adaptation has a distinctly Irish bent. Directed by Róisin McBrinn, the Trinity College Dublin-trained director whose production of Novecento was recently seen at Trafalgar Studios in London, and adapted by the Irish writer Ursula Rani Sarma, it stars Kate Stanley-Brennan, who has appeared in plays at the Abbey including Mark O’Rowe’s Young Vic-bound Terminus. Stanley-Brennan plays Yerma, a young woman who has been married to Juan for years but who has not had the child that she so desires. Desperate and fearing the lonely years ahead in a passionless marriage, she takes matters into her own hands with tragic consequences. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Sat to 26 Mar LG Diary Of A Nobody, Northampton Holloway clerk Charles Pooter really is a nobody. Condemned by class and education to be part of the faceless grind of Victorian London – unexceptional, unrecognised and unremarked upon – Charles is determined to be a somebody. So he decides to keep a diary, pointing out why he is a cut above his fellow clerks, and you are going to hear the sparkling gems within, whether you like it or not. George and Weedon Grossmith’s late-Victorian satire really is a timeless comic gem, detailing Charles’s small acts of rebellion, social gaffes and attempts to make himself appear more important than he is. This new version by Hugh Osborne is performed as a physical theatre farce by a cast of four. The Royal, Sat to 19 Mar LG Sex Idiot, Manchester There are not many shows where you learn something new: such as the fact that you can make a fake moustache out of pubic hair. That’s exactly what performance artist Bryony Kimmings does in this bonkers but really rather lovable little show, which was inspired by her experience of contracting a common sexually transmitted disease. The pubic hair belongs to members of the audience who are invited to offer it up mid-show – and many of them do in a real spirit of generosity. This probably isn’t a night out for those who hate audience participation or who are easily embarrassed, but for all its cheerful wackiness this is a serious and upfront show about love, sex, one-night stands and broken hearts. Contact, Sat LG

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 Published via the Guardian News Feed plugin for WordPress.

sjmaxson has added a photo to the pool:

sjmaxson has added a photo to the pool:

sjmaxson has added a photo to the pool:

sjmaxson has added a photo to the pool:

A consortium led by Michael Grade, the broadcast executive, has bought four of London’s West End theatres for £50m from Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group (RUG). Andrew Lloyd Webber announced: It has been a totally gut-wrenching decision for me to decide to sell the four theatres, however following my illness last year I was advised to reduce the debt in the family company. My commitment to composing, producing and theatre ownership remains as strong as ever. Michael Grade has family connections with the theatre. His father, Leslie Grade, was a theatrical agent , and his uncles were Lew Grade and Bernard Delfont, co-founder of theatre group Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. The four theatres involved in the sales are these: The Palace Theatre – currently playing Priscilla – Queen of the Desert The New London Theatre - currently playing War Horse The Cambridge Theatre - currently playing Chicago Her Majesty’s Theatre – The Phantom of the Opera The sale represents 4,900 theatre seats altogether. RUG retains ownership of larger theatres including The London Palladium – Soon to be the home of The Wizard of Oz The Theatre Royal Drury Lane – Currently showing Oliver!,  soon Shrek the Musical 50 per cent stake in the Adelphi – currently home for the London production of Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webbers most recent new show. He also said: I am particularly proud that over the 25 years that I have owned the Palace I have been able to restore the magnificent auditorium and the exterior, thereby removing the huge neon advertising hoarding that defaced both the theatre and Cambridge Circus. I have agreed the purchase price be reduced by £5m to enable GradeLinnit to invest this sum in the theatres, principally in the Palace.

This article by Andy contains a brief review of Enlightenment at the Hampstead Theatre. We’re always on the look out for new plays and venues for visitors here on London breaks to add to the possibilities for an extra evening out at the theatre, and it doesn’t always have to be in the West End by any means. There are theatre pubs, fringe theatres, off-west-end theatres and regional theatres all within the M25, many within central London itself. The play that was brought to our notice is called “Enlightenment” written by Shelagh Stephenson and directed by Edward Hall, Hampstead Theatre’s new Artistic Director. So Monday night took us to see the venue for the first time, right next to the Swiss Cottage roundabout and tube station. Arriving inside Hampstead Theatre felt more like visiting a leading performing arts centre for one of the major UK cities, like Canterbury or St Andrews, or Exeter. Not knowing anything much about ‘Enlightenment’ beforehand, I was able to deliberately keep an unprepared mind for the unfolding emotional drama as the plot weaved its way through the minefields of improbability. There was a small scientific thread in there somewhere, citing a theory akin to or possibly preceding chaos theory which needs further investigation but the big story was a classic human tragedy investigating the nature of identity and touching themes designed to disturb the audience’s sensibilities particularly poignant to parents. As a father myself, I feel particularly well placed to understand the two main characters anguish at not knowing the fate of their missing son.

The Hampstead Theatre is an impressive modern theatre venue, small enough to be intimate and with perfect acoustics and yet large enough to stage quality serious theatre productions, drawing in audiences from all over the capital, with excellent transport links on the fast Jubilee line and all the central connections just a few stops away, so this would be a sensible logistical addition to any London Breaks package. Enlightenment is a traditionally constructed play in two acts with a beginning, middle and end, realistic characters, a straightforward time line and just about believable events. There are moments where the sanity of everybody is questioned, but that is a reasonable thing for a play to do. The staging is impressively modern and effective with good use of additional sound and video, back projection and slick scene changes with transparent rising and falling furniture. Maybe it was just me but upstairs and downstairs became strangely confused, or was it deliberate? Nothing is quite as it seems with this play which has been running since September, so the acting should be well bedded in by now. There were times when I though the playscript was possibly a class above the performance, but in the second act I dropped that misgiving, particularly with all three female characters who worked well together, and the addition of a sixth character in the second act pulls the whole play together and leaves you on the edge. Cast: Daisy Beaumont Richard Clothier Paul Freeman Julie Graham Polly Kemp Tom Weston-Jones

jainaj has added a photo to the pool:

Saturday 21st August 2010

Went to see the very funny Jeff Goldblum at the Vaudeville Theatre in The Prisoner of Second Avenue. Very entertaining!

West End Breaks – a great way to see London West End breaks are a great way to really get to know the glitziest area of London. Staying in the West End for a few days gives you a chance to see the capital and really get familiar with one small part of the metropolis. London can seem a bit overwhelming when you have to whiz about on the tube. Staying in one area where everything is within walking distance really helps you to connect with the city and start to feel comfortable with it. Things to do in the West End See a show, or even two. West End breaks - The Mousetrap The West End has some of the best shows and theatres in the world. Everything from the quintessentially English Mousetrap to the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof can be found within a few minutes walk. If you are booking a West End break to see one show why not try fitting in a matinee of another as well? You can get half price tickets for many matinees actually on the day at the Official Ticket Booth on Leicester Square. Do not be seduced by deals at the other so called discount booths as these are often overpriced once you add in booking fees etc. If you do not feel like another show you could even check out the latest films in Leicester Square. If you are lucky you might happen on some stars attending the latest world premier! Shop till you drop Shopping during a West End break is easy and fun. You are within walking distance of Covent Garden where ther’s a wonderful selection of interesting little shops, the Apple Market (which is full of crafts and antiques) and The Jubilee which is a fascinating market. On Mondays, Antiques; from Tuesday-Friday clothing and household goods, and on Saturday and Sunday arts and crafts. Venture a little further and you find one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe in Oxford St, Bond St and Piccadilly Circus. There you will find all the high end fashion and major shops you might want. Where the West End really scores though is with little unique shops in Seven Dials and Carnaby St which will intrigue and tempt you in to look at and buy things you didn’t even know you needed. Eat the world Food on a West End break is very easy to organise. You might want to book your pre-theatre dinner when you book your break. Most companies offer good deals on early dinners and restuarants are used to making sure you have had your meal with plenty of time to spare for what is usually a short walk to the theatre. It is so much more relaxing than trailing across London after you’ve eaten and worrying about getting to the show on time. The West End has lots of restaurants and they are always changing. You can eat in just about any style you fancy from Classic French to Japanese and just about everything in between. In Covent Garden you can even get a real Cornish pastie and a pint of genuine Cornish beer if that is what you fancy. Check the menu boards outside if you are worried about the prices but most places are fairly reasonable. London’s reputation for being expensive really is not deserved and prices compare very favourably with tourist traps like the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. For real food bargains head for Soho and explore China Town. It is just a short walk but a world away. West End breaks are a great way to get to know London and I hope this little introduction will help you to see that London is definitely worth getting to know.

Theatre Breaks FAQ Theatre Breaks Magazine is all about doing the research for you. I recently did a series of posts on the  most frequently asked questions about theatre breaks. Here’s a quick summary of the Top 10 most frequently asked questions and the answers. You’ll find more details in the individual FAQ posts. Theatre Breaks Frequently Asked Questions 1. Is it safe to book online? Yes, the big online theatre breaks agencies are very reputable and are all set up to provide you with a safe, secure way of getting the theatre break you want. 2. How do I get my tickets? Theatre breaks agency vary, some send your tickets by post, others leave them at the Box Office for you to collect. If they are left at the box office it usually opens about 1 hour before the show. You need to collect your tickets at least 30 mins before the performance starts. 3. What time should we arrive at the theatre? You need to be sure to arrive at the theatre at least half an hour (30 mins) before the performance starts. There is a bar in most theatres and some even let you take drinks in to the theatre these days. Once you are in take a trip to the loo, queues during the interval can be long, especially for the Ladies! 4. Do we need to dress up? Not unless you want to! There is no strict dress code for any of the theatres in London. Smart/Casual is usually fine, some people may even be wearing jeans. Lots of people find they like to dress up, makes it more of an occasion. Do wear something comfortable and not too hot. The theatres are warm places even in winter. 5. What if I can’t use my theatre break or I need to change the date? Theatre breaks and tickets are usually sold on a no refund, no exchange basis. You can often arrange to transfer them to someone else or, very occasionally, the agency might buy them back from you. They are very unlikely to let you change the dates. If you are really stuck try phoning the agency. Remember if you have general travel insurance you might be at least partially covered, so check. 6. What if I’m late arriving at the theatre? Or the hotel? Unless you are very lucky if you’re late you will be asked to wait, possibly even until the interval! Don’t be late! Be there 30 mins before the performance. If you are delayed arriving at the hotel, your room is booked but it’s best to let them know to expect you to check in later. Make sure you have the hotel phone number with you and give them a ring. 7. How many nights in the hotel can I book? You specify the number of nights and the day you would like to see the show when you book. Often there’s a good deal on an extra night or two. You can’t usually book more than 4 or 5 nights. 8. Will I get good seats? This rather depends on the agency you choose. Most theatre break agencies tell you in advance what level of seats you can expect. Some will be very specific and give seat numbers, others just specify ‘top price tickets’ (stalls or dress circle). Watch out for very cheap theatre break deals that don’t specify your seats. You could end up with a restricted view! 9 What about parking? If the hotel offers parking it is always mentioned in the description. Often it will mean an extra charge, usually between £15 and £20. Don’t forget about Congestion Charging. This applies between 7.00am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and is £8 per day. Worth mentioning that many of the theatre breaks agencies offer discounted rail tickets to include in your package and these are often a better idea than taking the car into central London. 10. Can I take the family? Short answer Yes, but children must be at least 5 and you might struggle to find family friendly packages suitable for under 10s. Longer Answer They need to be able to sit in their own seat and pay attention. There’s usually a disclaimer at the theatre which says something like: Admittance to the auditorium shall always be at the discretion of the management.

This translates as – if they misbehave and/or disturb people, you’re out and you’ve no chance of a refund. Some theatre break packages do not cater for family groups at all and many only book either double or twin rooms. You’ll need to shop around but it can be done! Your Questions About Theatre Breaks Do you have any questions about theatre breaks? Just leave them in the comments here and I’ll do my best to find the answers so that you can book your theatre break with confidence.

Your West End Guide to What’s On Where Summer 2009 West End Guide shows and theatres May09 When you are thinking about shows for theatre breaks you can use our West End Guide to What’s on Where to get an idea of the size of the theatres. This can be very useful when you are looking for a show but you aren’t really sure what you want to see. Bigger productions like Sister Act or Wicked are in the largest theatres where as something like Stomp, although it’s still great fun, isn’t in quite such a spectacular setting. Of course size isn’t everything when it comes to theatres. Phantom of the Opera and Les Miz are both in smaller, older theatres but the theatres are quite grand and their productions are still full of spectacle.

West End Guide - where is “Theatreland”? In the heart of the West End of London is an area sometimes called ‘Theatreland’. Traditionally it is bordered by The Strand to the south, Oxford Street to the north, Regent Street to the west, and Kingsway to the east. Important streets with theatres include :

Drury Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, The Strand.

The area contains around forty of London’s largest theatres.They tend to show mostly musicals, with a few classics, new plays,and comedy performances. West End Guide to the Theatres .

Most of the theatres were built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. All of them are privately owned. All of the older theatres have great architectural character and range in style from the grand neo-classical to the very ornate rococo. They usually have luxurious, detailed interior design and decoration, with lots of gold and plush. Occasionally the older theatres have limited leg room and restricted views from some parts of the theatre. Tickets for these areas are usually sold cheaper and are not usually offered as part of theatre breaks. Audience facilities such as bars and toilets are often much smaller than in modern theatres. The buildings are all listed and this can make it hard to make improvements. However several theatres have introduced modern comforts such as air conditioning and new sound systems. The Largest Theatres in The West End The largest theatres in the West End seat over 2,000 theatre-goers.

The Palladium - currently about to show Sister Act - 2286 seats The Apollo, Vcctoria - Wicked - 2208 The Theatre Royal - Oliver!- 2196 seats The Dominion - We Will Rock You - 2163 seats The Lyceum - Lion King - 2100 seats I’ll be posting more soon on our West End Guide

barcles has added a photo to the pool:

TheatreLondonBreaksStreetMap.JPG Originally uploaded by Andyrob Photograph of the useful streetmap map for London breaks with all the theatres and street names. Handy for plotting a route from hotel to theatre duringtheatre breaks