Theatre Education Resources

Many of Hollywood’s biggest names have appeared on stage in the West End in recent years. From Gwyneth Paltrow to Nicole Kidman, and David Schwimmer to Christian Slater, a regular stream of superstars has added to the glamour of London’s theatre-land.

Along with our own famous actors, you’re guaranteed to see some familiar names when you look through the current listings.The more popular plays are often booked up several months in advance, but sometimes there are late cancellations.

In cases like this, they may be put up for sale at the theatre’s box office on the day of performance. Some people enjoy an afternoon strolling round the West End looking for last-minute availability.

It’s a great way to soak up some of that special London atmosphere.The cost of taking in one of London’s fine plays is nowhere near as high as people imagine; in fact, cheap West End theatre tickets can be obtained from a variety of sources.

There are ticket booths which are always worth a visit; they not only have discounted prices, they sometimes have returned tickets from some of the sold-out shows in stock.If you’re simply looking for something to put a smile on your face, there are some laugh-out-loud comedies to be seen.

For the culture vultures out there, make a date to take in one of Shakespeare’s wonderful works. The Bard is as popular as ever these days, and you could even visit the faithfully-restored Globe Theatre, and see one of his plays as his first audiences once did.A quick scan through the stage-play listings in the newspaper will show you there’s something for everyone in the West End.

Whether your taste is for a hard-hitting, controversial drama that pushes the boundaries of acceptance, or an immensely popular musical that’s full to the brim with memorable songs and a lively cast, you’ll find it in London.

In fact, you should do something memorable and glamorous, to get yourself back to a happy place once again.

Ask anyone where the most glitzy place in the UK is, and they’ll tell you it’s the West End of London. The bright lights, the expectant throng of people, the wonderful shops and restaurants and, above all, the majestic theatres, make the area a magnet for visitors from all over the world.

In these hard financial times, we seem to get bogged down with worries about making ends meet. We spend less and less on ourselves, and the occasional treat sometimes goes by the wayside.

It can be a rather depressing situation, especially if there’s nothing to look forward to in the coming weeks. It’s important to keep morale high, though, so if you haven’t done something wonderful recently, then it’s time you did.