The nights are drawing in and with the clocks going back this weekend, it’s time to start counting the precious hours of daylight. With night-time starting as early as 3pm at the height of deepest darkest winter, now is the time to be indoors.

Traditionally, we are now moving into the busy part of the theatre season as the cold dark nights set in. People want entertainment that is indoors, when they meet up with friends, or need an escape from the X-Factor, the Xtra factor and the numerous repeats of the show on ITV 2.

Arguments have been made in the past that the West End is too focussed on mass appeal juke box musicals, alienating a more traditionalist theatregoer. It is true that there have been times in the recent past when musicals have occupied most West End theatres, shutting the door on the straight play. However, I detect a change in the air when I look at the productions currently on offer.

The huge surprise for us at Discount Theatre Towers is the interest in Onassis at the Novello Theatre, which stars Robert Lindsay. Taking a look at the top 10 sellers last week on Discount Theatre, Onassis ranks number 4, out of a possible 30 plus West End shows. Not bad for a straight play about a tyrannical Greek tycoon.

The other current show that is doing incredibly well is Yes, Prime Minister which depicts a coalition government that is trying to avoid a financial meltdown by doing deals with questionable world leaders. The subject matter will be very relevant to a lot of people I’m sure.

Opening this week is When We Are Married, a British comedy written by JB Priestley, that brings a farcical treatment to a quaint Yorkshire village. And next week Oscar Wilde’s classic, and literary favourite, An Ideal Husband starts previewing, which stars Alexander Hanson and Samantha Bond.

There’s more great plays to come in the next few months, such as Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit starring Alison Steadman and Ruthie Henshall, and Clybourne Park which received great critical acclaim when it was at the Royal Court. For a full list of West End plays currently on sale click here.

You can also join the popular masses and save over 45% on Onassis at the Novello Theatre: Tickets normally £49.50 are reduced to £25.99 Monday to Thursday. Buy Onassis tickets here.

Hair The Musical will now close on the 4th September, when the Broadway cast finishes its contract.

Despite a lot of positive press and numerous awards for the Broadway production, it seems that the show is unable to sustain a long run in London.

Hair is such a great musical and this production is definitely worth seeing. However, I think the £65 face value on top price seats was overly ambitious. Yes, relocating the entire cast of a musical is an expensive business and consequently funds need to be raised, but Wicked, Les Miserables, The Lion King, Phantom Of the Opera and Chicago all have top price tickets with a face value hovering around the £60 mark.

Not that the above shows are worth any more or less than Hair, art is a very subjective business. But I do ask the question: is it a little strange that the ‘hippie musical’ is more expensive than most of the other West End shows?

Thankfully, you can buy a ticket for Hair at a discount price, before it is swept away in September. Discount Theatre has upper circle tickets midweek reduced to £22.99 and top price tickets for matinees reduced to £45.99, as well as some dinner and show packages from £42.50 per person.

It really is a superb show and would be a shame to miss it. Buy your Hair tickets here. 

Some good news for one of The West End’s most loved shows and its inhabitants; the puppets from Avenue Q will be packing their bags once again and moving house!

It’s been announced that Avenue Q will transfer to the Wyndhams Theatre when it finishes its run at the Gielgud Theatre in March, the show will be occupying is third West End venue; it originally opened at the Noel Coward Theatre in June 2006.

The rude and crude puppets are proving to be very popular with London audiences, unfortunately it’s doesn’t look like they will get a holiday this time as the production is set to transfer immediately after it closes at the Gielgud. It will open at the Wyndhams Theatre on the 19th March 2010.

Looking forward to seeing Trekkie Monster and Lucy the Slut strutting their stuff around Leicester Square Tube station!

Top price Avenue Q tickets are reduced to £32.50 for midweek performances. Book your Avenue Q tickets here.

Looks like the “Last Chance” warnings were a little premature.

Cameron Mackintosh has announced that Avenue Q, the endearing look at life in New York using both puppets and humans to illustrate how life sucks will now transfer to the Gielgud Theatre.

The current run at the Noel Coward Theatre will finish on the 28th March to make way for the highly anticipated stage version of the film Calendar Girls. After a 2 month hiatus, allowing some well deserved down time for the puppets, or perhaps a chance for some internet surfing of the naughty sort, the entire cast will traipse a few blocks North to Shaftesbury Avenue.

Originally opening in the West End in June 2006, Avenue Q has found its place as one of the funniest and crudest of all musicals. It may look like a harmless puppet show, but as the description says “these characters wouldn’t be welcome on Sesame Street.” Best to leave the young kids at home….there’s some puppet sex which may scare even the most well adjusted adult.

Avenue Q will open at the Gielgud Theatre on the 1st June with a booking period to 26th September.

To get your Avenue Q Tickets Click Here