Fear not, they will be re-housed again.
Thank goodness that our favourite puppets seem to be a firm West End fixture. The inhabitants of Avenue Q will be evicted from the Gielgud Theatre this Saturday, but will be resettling at the Wyndhams Theatre, which is right behind The Noel Coward Theatre, where the puppets made their West End debut!
Awwww, how cute!
Avenue Q is completely different from anything else running in the West End, and despite its eccentric characters and adult humour, it seems to have won the hearts of the British public, as it did with the folks on Broadway.
Avenue Q will re-open at the Wyndhams Theatre on the 19th March after a week long hiatus; Fortunately the same great discounts apply. Top price tickets are available for only £32.50 on Discount Theatre.
Get yourself down to Leicester Square and join the Q!
Goodbye to Leicester Square!
So we’ve broken the back of what we will call “Summer 2009” and are headed into the Autumn. Soon the crowds will disappear from Leicester Square and the air will be slightly cooler as the leaves start to change colour. Change is definitely in the air.
The West End is also full of change due to many new productions that are opening in the next month or so, making an exciting scene for theatre lovers. I thought I would do a little list of my top picks for Autumn 2009.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Theatre Royal Haymarket
Who doesn’t love the film starring Audrey Hepburn? And what man doesn’t love Anna Friel? Both will be on stage starting in September as Friel takes on the role of Holly Golightly in the theatrical adaptation. My boyfriend is already begging me to get tickets. Girls and guys will both be pleased with this one.
The Shawshank Redemption – Wyndhams Theatre
Ok, so another film becomes a stage production, but the story is a cracker. Kevin Anderson (Sleeping With The Enemy) and Reg E Cathey (The Wire) will star as prison inmates who form a bond and make the best of the grim atmosphere.
Prick Up Your Ears – Comedy Theatre
Matt Lucas of Little Britain comes to the stage in a historical dramatisation of playwright Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell. Expect sharp banter and darkly comic moments as the pair struggle to cope with Orton’s fame and Halliwell’s distaste for mundane domesticity.
Kevin Spacey stars in Inherit The Wind at the Old Vic Theatre
Inherit The Wind – Old Vic Theatre
Kevin Spacey is back on stage to mark the 150th anniversary of Darwinism in Inherit The Wind. In 1925 a teacher is accused of violating Tennessee state laws by teaching evolution to his students. Is freedom of thought on trial in the supposed land of the free? The legendary Trevor Nunn directs… I suspect this will be gripping stuff.
The Rat Pack – Adelphi Theatre
Admittedly, a re-entry onto the scene but I will be going again to see The Rat Pack for sure. This tribute show will delight those with a nostalgic streak, with songs such as My Way, That’s Amore and Mr. Bojangles. And the Christmas show is even better.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice – Vaudeville Theatre
Another West End revival is set to make an appearance in October, The Rise And Fall of Little Voice, which premiered at the National Theatre in 1992 and was subsequently made into a film, is back for a limited run. This time Lesley Sharp, Marc Warren and Diana Vickers (from last year’s X factor) will perform the lead roles. Reality TV fans will be lining up to get tickets.
Lesley Sharp, Marc Warren and Diana Vickers will star in "Little Voice" which previews from the 8th October.
Make a note of the above, it’s set to be a great time for London theatre. Discount tickets are available for many new shows so check them out here. And if you disagree, by all means let us know which shows you are looking forward to. For now, I’m going to continue packing up my desk…..
We here at Discount Theatre Towers enjoy the view of Leicester Square from our offices. We get to see film premieres; there’s a nice fountain and a little bit of grass with some flowers; and the Hare Krishnas come by every night dancing and chanting away, providing us with some free entertainment.
But on the weekend of 20th to 21st June, West End Live will come to the “Square” which means two solid days of free entertainment, rather than the fleeting minutes that the Krishnas usually provide.
West End Live has been going for a few years now; basically many West End shows come to Leicester Square and perform a number from the show. This is rather useful in these cash strapped times; you can see little snippets of the show and test drive them before buying that all important ticket. Or you can just come and mooch about and enjoy a free day out. No one will walk around with a hat after each performance asking for donations for the ”free entertainment” (if you’ve ever been to Covent Garden you’ll know what I am talking about).
Some of the shows that are scheduled to appear are Avenue Q, Carousel, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and We Will Rock You, with many more on board. And if you find that you like the look (and sound) of any of the performances you can buy tickets from www.discounttheatre.com; many shows offer great discounts in advance.
In our office, we also get the pleasure of hearing the sound checks and a bird’s eye view of the set up for West End Live on the day before. We’ll be looking forward to hearing the beats of Stomp as we type away on our keyboards….
West End Live takes place on the 20th June from 11am to 6pm and 21st June from noon until 6pm. Admission is free, so no ticket needed to enjoy a sample of the best shows in the West End!
Avenue Q performs in last year's West End Live in Leicester Square
