One happy piece of London theatre news today is that Lenny Henry’s Othello is transferring to the London West End in September at the Trafalgar Studios. Lenny Henry is to bring his performance as Othello to London when the Northern Broadsides production transfers to Trafalgar Studio 1 from 1st September to 12th December 2009 with a press night on the 18th of September.
Othello is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy plays.
This production started at the West Yorkshire Playhouse Leeds in February, and Lenny Henry received favourable reviews for his debut in the title role.
Othello Reviews
Michael Billington in The Guardian, not always the most positive of critics, praised the “simple dignity” of Lenny Henry’s Othello.
Othello also stars Conrad Nelson as Iago, Jessica Harris as Desdemona, Richard Standing as Cassio, plus David Beckford, Matt Connor, Andy Cryer, Victoria Gee, Geoff Leesley, Chris Pearse, Simon Holland Roberts and Sara Poyzer.
Shakespeare Theatre Breaks
Shakespeare plays are perennial favourites in London but usually only for relatively short runs compared to the big musicals so this production of Othello with the well known name of Lenny Henry will provide a unique opportunity for Shakespeare theatre breaks to London during the run up to Christmas 2009.
When you are planning which show to see for your theatre break a good start can be think about what kind of music makes you feel good. Of course you don’t have to be old enough to remember it the first time around. It’s perfectly possible to be nostalgic for a time before you were even born! The music of the 60s is full of optimism and energy. It takes us back to a time when anything seemed possible and far away from doom and gloom. Theatre breaks to shows like these are a kind of time travel so sit back and enjoy visiting a very different world.
Theatre Breaks Back to the ’60s
In this post I’m going to concentrate on the 60′s and if the 60′s are your choice then there’s a couple great shows on in the West End right now that are perfect for theatre breaks.
Hairspray
Has to be a contender for your 1960s theatre break. The show is full of the music, colour, costumes and feel of the ‘feel good 60′s’. The plot is uplifting and there’s lots of laughs. You’ll come out singing “Good Morning Balitmore” and feeling anything is possible.
Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and their rise to fame. They wrote masses of hits in the early 60s. You’ll be singing along to songs you know and love and audience participation is positively encouraged. Just have a look at a few of the 60s classics you’ll hear.
Other 60′s Things to do on your Theatre Breaks
You might want to keep to a sixties theme on your theatre break and London is just the place to do that. Check out some of these cool attractions to really get that ’60s vibe.
Madame Tussauds
Theatre Breaks Tussauds visit.
You could spend a whole day here there’s so much to see and do but your quest is to experience the Swinging 60s. To do that you hop into a time travelling black cab and take a journey back through London’s history. The small version of London’s world famous taxis have room for just two and will drive you through the historic and cultural events that have shaped London. So sit back and enjoy the ride as you move all the way from Tudor times to Carnaby St.
You can add a trip to Madame Tussauds to your theatre break when you book for only an extra £15 and there’s masses to do there. After a £1 million+ make over Tussauds is much more than a waxworks these days with several interactive exhibitions. It’s a great addition to your theatre break!
If you do go you must arrive early to avoid the long queues that build up as the day goes on. Make your way there straight after breakfast and be there just around opening time (9:00am weekends, 9:30 week days).
Carnaby Street
Theatre Breaks - Carnaby St
Carnaby Street is not quite what it once was but the spirit of the 60s is kept alive by fascinating shops like The Face.
Here you can browse and explore both new reproductions and vintage 1960s items. The sixties were one of the most stylish decades of the last century and they still influence current fashions so indulge your nostalgia itch and treat yourself!
Today’s Carnaby area is more than just Carnaby Street itself. The pedestrianised area just behind Regent Street has lots of new stores and a passage through to Kingly Court. Set around an open courtyard, there are three floors of one-off ‘concept’ shops and studios where it can be possible to find items not sold anywhere else in London.
Original Bus Tour
Theatre Breaks Routemaster bus
What could be more iconic of the 60s than a red London Routemaster bus?
The Routemaster still runs on a couple of routes in central London. If you want to ride one it costs the standard £2 ticket for each ride.
The Routmaster runs on routes 9 and 15.
Route 9 -Royal Albert Hall — Hyde Park Corner — Piccadilly Circus — Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych.
Route 15 -Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych — Fleet Street — Cannon Street — Monument — Tower Hill.
The red Routemaster is the authentic 60s way to see the city but it’s definitely not the most comfortable or the best view. For that you need The Original Bus Tour. This is a comfortable modern alternative that will let you see all the sights from a comfortable, modern, open-topped bus. You can hop on and off at several points and there’s an interesting commentary. The whole Original Bus Tour takes around two hours to complete and visits:
Buckingham Palace – Piccadilly Circus -National Gallery -Downing Street – Big Ben – London Bridge – St Paul’s Cathedral – Tower Bridge – Tower of London- Westminster Abbey
Your tour can be booked at the same time as your theatre break and costs £18 each for adults. (To see all these sights by Routemaster could end up costing your considerably more!)
Time Travel Theatre Breaks to other Eras
Of course the 60s aren’t the only times you might want to visit on your theatre break.
Do you like to rock out and remember the stadium rock concerts of your youth?
Maybe Tamla Motown rings your bell?
Or are you a Disco Diva?
I’ll be writing posts about each of these eras to help you choose the show for your perfect theatre break.
Eating Out in London – A short Guide to the West End
Some people worry about eating out in London’s West End, and perhaps with good reason. Food in central London can be a bit expensive, some places are overcrowded at certain times of day, restaurants may be pretentious and not very good. But it really doesn’t have to be that way.
A weekend theatre break for example, should be a thoroughly enjoyable experience all the way through and dining out should be one of the high points, a part of the treat.
West End Guide to Pre Theatre Dining
Suppose you arrive at Kings Cross Station or Euston at about 4pm on a Friday afternoon and make your way by taxi cab to your four star West End hotel.
Pre-booked Pre-theatre Dinner in the West End
When you book a theatre break with hotel stay and show tickets included, it’s easy to add a pre-show dinner, either at the hotel where you will be staying or at a suggested nearby quality restaurant. These meal deals or add-ons are all set up to make sure you have an relaxed restaurant dinner and can still arrive at the theatre in plenty of time to take you seats well before the show starts. The restaurant bill is then included in the total cost of your break and it’s usually very good value.
Choosing a West End Restaurant by walking in off the street
Alternatively many of the cafes and restaurants in the West End offer fixed price pre-theatre menus. These are usually two course and cost vary wildly between £15 – £40 per person, without wine.
Here are some tips to consider before walking in off the street:
First have a good look at the menu before you go in. Is is the kind of you food you fancy? Is there a special pre-theatre menu deal and if so what exactly is included
Decide if you are happy with the price and check there are no hidden’extras’(VAT, Service etc)
Now look in through the windows and see who is already eating. If nobody at all, that’s not always a bad sign if it’s still very early evening but some places are crowded from late afternoon with people coming straight out from work.
If there are diners eating within sight, or waiters carrying food to table then have a nosy glance at the food itself. In just a second you can often get an impression if it looks appetising, artistic, not quite right, too big or too small.
I think it’s also important to look at the tables and chairs offered to see if you think you will be comfortable and not too squashed together.
Now, once you do go in through the door of your selected restaurant you are most likely to end up eating there, but you are still really in the next stage of the evaluation process.
You may well be able to enjoy smells coming from the kitchen and the food at tables. If anything is wrong, just turn around and walk out.
You’ll be greeted and asked if you have a reservation, and the size of your party. Even in a busy restaurant though, an extra table for two at pre-theatre times is rarely a problem.
When offered a table according to the size of your party, check the location before accepting. A window table is nice but not right next to the front door. Beware of the table the waiters normally keep clear because it’s right by the kitchen exit or worse. Even in an empty restaurant with no reservations, they will try to tell you where you have to sit. I don’t know why they do this, but I do know that you can certainly say “no thanks, I’d rather sit over there” and negotiate. And you can still walk out at this stage, when there are plenty of other places just two minutes walk away.
Popular Restaurants Booked with Theatre Breaks
West End Restaurant
Type of Cuisine
West End Area
Handy for These Shows
Features
Christophers Restaurant
American Bar and Grill
Overlooking Waterloo Bridge
Avenue Q
Chicago
Derren Brown Enigma
Dirty Dancing
Calendar Girls
Hairspray
Joseph
The Lion King
A Little Night Music
Oliver
Stomp
Woman In Black
A modern, sumptuous menu served in a grade II listed building with a sweeping staircase, soft lighting, opulent decor and fantastic views over The River Thames.
L’Escargot
Owned by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White, need I say more?
Right in the Heart of Soho
Grease Jersey Boys Les Miserables
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
THRILLER Live
Fine dining with fresh ingredients, art on the walls and a famous name.
Creation restaurant
Oriental meets British cuisine
Covent Garden
Blood Brothers
The Mousetrap
We Will Rock You
Open kitchen, fine art work
Salierie’s restaurant
European cuisine
The Strand
Carousel
Derren Brown Enigma
La Cage Aux Folles
Joseph
The walls are decorated with theatrical memorabilia
Dial Restaurant at the Seven Dials complex
Updated British classics
Covent Garden
Chicago
Stomp
A popular meeting place amongst Londoners and theatre goers
Bertorelli’s Restaurant
Italian
Covent Garcden
Dirty Dancing
Hairspray
The Lion King
OliverWoman In Black
When you are planning a theatre break often the safest option is to pick a classic show that you know will deliver a good night out.
These are the shows that have been running the longest and have the best established productions. Theatre breaks to these shows are often a little bit easier to get for specific dates (like half-term or during the school holidays). Sometimes these classic shows can also be very good value for theatre breaks as they are not quite as much in demand as new shows like Priscilla or Oliver!
You still get a wide range of shows to choose from, from the more operatic style of show to rock classics. There’s something to suit most tastes and I’m going to make a few suggestions to help you decide.
5 Classic Shows for Theatre Breaks
Les Miserables – huge, epic score, big cast, amazing almost operatic songs. Les Mis is still going strong after all these years
Phantom of the Opera – smaller cast, less complex plot, but high production values, great score and another ‘operatic’ show.
Blood Brothers – another long running show but this one has a very different feel. Willy Russel’s story of a pair of Liverpool brothers and the twists and turns of their lives has a depth that’s kept it amongst the best loved musicals for theatre breaks many years.
Billy Elliot – another epic story with great ensemble set pieces. Billy is heart-rending but ultimately uplifting.You’ll come out feeling amazing! A perfect choice for theatre breaks.
We Will Rock You – if you were a Queen fan or even if you weren’t this is the ultimate rock opera. It has all the fun of a rock concert without any of the unpleasantness!
Any of these shows could form the centre piece of a theatre break anyone in the family could enjoy.
In this post for the new Theatre Breaks magazine I declare that I inherited an interest in theatre breaks from my own parents, no less. My mother and father used to travel up to London together, all the way from Truro about once or twice a year, and sometimes it would be to celebrate a special occasion. The one which involved me was a golden wedding anniversary trip, and I was invited to lunch in the Drury Lane Hotel with them whilst they showed me the smart facilities at the hotel and told me how much they had enjoyed seeing “Les Miserables” for the third time the night before.
I believe the theatre trip had been planned almost a whole year in advance, because you only ever get one golden wedding if at all, and they clearly wanted everything to be just as they like it. Seeing a show you are absolutely certain you are going to enjoy is one way of going about things. Others might prefer to see something for the first time, but highly recommended by trusted friends or sources.
Other Theatre Breaks Occasions
Now there is absolutely no need whatsoever to have an excuse for booking a theatre break, it can simply be considered to be one amongst several short breaks dotted around the year, but if you do like to have a special occasion to celebrate then here are a few other suggestions for deliberately timed theatre breaks.
Birthday Treat – An obvious one, whether it’s your own birthday or that of a partner, spouse, friend or other relative, you’ll have a great time together in London if you both love the theatre and all the trappings.
Empty Nest – No more fledgelings living under your roof? Enjoy the peace and quiet for a few weeks then go away on a London Theatre Break without worrying the house has been wecked by a Facebook party!
Retirement – What’s the point in working all your life if you can’t enjoy a good night out midweek now you have the time at last.
New job / promotion – Celebrate every step along the way of life
End of busy season at work – Once the holidaymakers or other visitors have all gone home, make the most of the slack season by taking a break in your own preferred style
Hen Night / stag night – Theatre breaks are not just for couples, you can go with your own gang and have a riot of a time in London.
New Year Theatre Break – There’s the one in January of course, but also a new tax year in April, new school year in September, Chinese New Year in February
New Grandchild – Once you’ve visited the new grandchild to do your bit then left them to get on with it, recuperate on the way back through the capital by staying on for a London theatre break
Graduation – It could be your own or somebody you are very proud of – treat both of you to a theatre break to mark the occasion.
I hope these ideas inspire you to find the rationale for planning your next theatre break, so you’ll have something wonderful to look forward to from the moment it’s booked.
Spring is a super time of year for a London break. The city is just warming up, the parks are full of spring flowers and the weather is mostly pretty good. Obviously you are not guaranteed sunshine but you are a lot less likely to get rained on than you are further north or west in the UK. This means you can really enjoy the sights of London without the city heat or the summer crowds.
St James Park in March
Days can be warm and sunny but the evenings can be quite chilly. So pack a light coat and maybe a pashmina for coming back from the theatre. You probably won’t need an umbrella.
Three top shows to see on your spring London break
I’m going to suggest three shows that could be good choices for your London break this spring
Priscilla – A new show but not a new production. It’s been going for several weeks now, so it’s pretty slick. It’s getting good reviews, the music is great (think 70′s disco standards
We Will Rock You – still great and still packing them in. But there are persistent rumours of the show closing. Definitely worth seeing or seeing again!
Hairspray – if you can act quickly you’ll be able to see Michael Ball before he leaves the production in June. I’m sure Billy Conley will make a great Edna but Michael has made the role his own and has to be worth seeing.
London Breaks this Summer
London breaks in the summer can be great too. The city is generally a couple of degrees warmer than the rest of the UK and this is even more the case in summer.
The city buildings hold the heat so a hot day can mean it doesn’t cool down all that much in the evening either. This makes strolling round the West End after the show soaking up the atmosphere very pleasant.
Do the London thing and buy yourself some bottled water for use during the day. Use it to keep your cool, especially if you go on the tube. I also use Evian spray sometimes if it gets very sticky. Great for cooling off!
Dress in cool fabrics for the theatre as they can be quite hot, even if air-conditioned. Some of the theatres are ‘air-cooled’ rather than air conditioned. This means that the front stalls are coolest seats in Summer. Avoid the highest circle and the back rows as these are the biggest heat-traps. This won’t be an issue if you are buying your theatre break through a theatre breaks agency that guarantees you the best available seats.
Anyway it’s the perfect excuse to buy that little black linen dress you’ve been eying up! A cashmere shawl or cardigan is all you’ll need on top.
3 Top Shows to see on your summer London break
These 3 shows would be good choices for London breaks this summer:
Sister Act – very new, not even open as I write, Sister Act should have settled down by the summer. It’s looking all set to be a hit show.
Phantom of the Opera – a long running classic but still looking good. See the original production this summer before the sequel comes out in the Autumn.
Jersey Boys – good fun, high energy, a feel-good show. Jersey Boys has quickly become a real favourite. They’ve just released a new batch of tickets for the summer so you should be able to get the dates you want.
London Breaks at other times of year
London breaks in autumn and winter have their own advantages but I’ll save them for another post later.
Before starting the regular theatre news updates I thought I’d do a bit of a roundup of news from the previous month and the first half of April just so we know where we are starting from. And it’s been a busy month!
War Horse
War Horse, the sensational play with giant equine puppets arrived at the New London Theatre after an acclaimed run at the National.
War Horse is based on the celebrated novel by Michael Morpurgo. The First World War is the backdrop for this exciting tale of bravery, and the extraordinary bond between a young recruit and his horse.
Sister Act News
Patina Miller and the rest of the cast of Sister Act continue to build up the expectation for the Palladium’s new show. Whoopi Goldberg herself managed to overcome fear of air travel in order to appear on the Jonathon Ross show and other publicity appointments in London.
Avenue Q – Theatre News is good!
Avenue Q announced that it won;t be closed forever afaterall, but is due to reopen at the Gielgud Theatre on 1 June after a month-long break from the Noel Coward Theatre.
Spring Awakening
The cast of Spring Awakening brought a refreshing new musical to the West End’s Novello Theatre after a successful run at the Hammersmith Lyric theatre. Previewing from March 21st this youthful, exhuberent but also dark musical play has had nothing but good reviews.
Moonshadow – Theatre News not good
One piece of bad news this month is that the Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens musical Moonshadow failed to find a West End theatre available for potential transfer and thus postponed opening at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton in July as originally planned.
Jersey Boys Wins Olivier Awards
The Jersey Boys musical goes from strength to strength coming top of the New Musical category amongst other awards at the 2009 Olivier Awards.
Consolation for Zorro!, a great flamenco musical which closed this month was an award for Best Supporting Role in a Musicalwhich wentdeservedly to Lesli Margherita who was sensational in Zorro!.
Emergency New Fagin for Oliver!
In a surprise announcement, Russ Abbot was asked to return to the role of Fagin in Oliver for a couple of weeks in April. Rowan Atkinson was forced to pull out for three weeks to undergo minor surgery for a hernia. Russ Abbot played the role of Fagin in the 1997 production and also in a couple of touring productions.
New Edna for Hairspray
Michael Ball has been a riot as the lead role in Hairspray for around two years so now a new Edna has been announced for July and it’s non other than Brian Conley whose West End theatre experience includes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2005.
When it comes to choosing your dates for booking London breaks, I appreciate some can be more flexible than others. It all depends on what your visit is mainly for. Perhaps to mark a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, in which case seeing a show on the big day may be important. Others will be happy to organise around the nearest weekend if a midweek break is out of the question because of weekday commitments.
Or seeing a special show may be the whole purpose, booking a london break to get those sought after tickets. If a midweek London break is at all a possibility then it does have a lot going for it. Not only are the best show tickets more likely to be available than on a Saturday night, and the chances of picking up a better value hotel deal increased, but also I think the London life is just a tad more authentic when the city is doing it’s business day thing, with places such as the City of London almost deserted at weekends. Not only that but if you plan to do a little shopping thne places like Oxford Street are much easier to negotiate when the Saturday crowds are absent.
Midweek London Breaks on offer
Several times a year there are special offers for Midweek London breaks with top musicals and these include a Monday to Thursday show and for some a Friday is a possibility as well. This reflects the fact that London hotels are in demand not just for business clients during the week but largely for tourists and visitors at weekends who outnumber the corporate residents, thus creating some spare capacity on weekdays. Of course Saturday night show tickets always sell out first as well, so midweek is the way to go if you can get away with it at all.
London Breaks by Rail
Travel to London from the UK is often best by intercity fast train network. Even if you are the sort of person who goes everywhere by car, for a London break, this is really not a good place to bring one because of the traffic, the parking problems, the unforgiveness of London drivers and taxis for those who are unfamiliar with where they are going and worries over breaking the congestion charge regulations. Rail travel on the other hand should bring you to central London in a relatively relaxed and stress free frame of mind to enjoy the theatre. There are just a couple of tips I’d point out to help you plan London breaks by rail.
* Rush hour – don’t arrive in London before 9.30am or depart for your return journey between 4.00pm and 7.00pm. This shouldn’t be a problem if you are coming a few hundred miles but could be an issue for those in the South East of England who try to spend the whole day in London as well as travelling.
* Quiet Carriages – If you should be unfortunate enough to be seated next to a loud mobile phone user or families with DVD players on some routes then seeking out the designated Quiet Carriage will solve it, and they can also be less crowded.
* First Class upgrades can be well worth the small premium, ( lookout for “Weekend First” deals) and you might get some sort of meal and and a newspaper thrown in.
For best value rail tickets, booking in advance is the key and if you book rail tickets as part of a London break with show, hotel stay and any attractions as well you can save up to 40% on the rail component.
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
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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
It’s lovely to make the most of your theatre break and the theatre break agencies often have lots of other things to do in London that you can book at the same time. This is a great way to make sure fit everything in and also save a bit of money. Many additional attractions are offered at reduced prices when you book them with your theatre break.
Popular things to do as part of an inclusive theatre break
You can see from this chart that the #1 most popular thing to do as part of a theatre break is to book the London Eye. This is offered as either a ‘fast track’ ticket (cuts your waiting time for your flight by 30 minutes) or the luxury ‘Champagne Flight’.
The Original Bus Tour is another favourite. An open top bus tour through the London streets with an interesting commentary is a great way to see the sights without getting foot sore.
Next up is the London Dungeon, perfect for scaring yourselves whilst soaking up a bit of history.
These are closely followed in popularity by the Tower of London and Madame Tussauds. If you like history and atmosphere these are all great choices!
If you’d rather do something a bit more out of the ordinary the Duck Tour is great fun. It is an exciting and novel way to see the sights of London.
Personally, hitting the lovely London shops followed by Afternoon Tea at Fortnum and Masons is my favourite thing to do but each to their own.
