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.

Tennessee Williams’ classic play Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is set to open at the Novello Theatre on the 21st November, but the all star cast (see picture below) have just started rehearsals for this hugely anticipated production.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof features James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Adrian Lester and Sanaa Lathan and is directed by Debbie Allen. The production was a sell out on Broadway and is sure to be a big hitter for London’s winter theatre season.

Last seen in the West End in 2001, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof centres around a powerful American family, who gather for a birthday party that explodes into a provocative revelation of secrets.

I can’t wait. Who can resist the legend that is James Earl Jones!

Don’t miss this one, buy your Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Tickets here .

One of the great plays of the 20th Century is crossing the ocean to take up residency at the Novello Theatre in December, causing excitement and concern…both The Drowsy Chaperone and Spring Awakening (Broadway hits) moved into the Novello with disastrous effects. Neither lasted more than 2 months.

Surely the Tennessee Williams play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, will survive the seeming minefield that is a London audience?

This latest incarnation was a sell out on Broadway with a sublime cast, some of whom are coming to do the West End leg as well. No need to tell you about the Academy and Tony award winning legend that is James Earl Jones…he plays Big Daddy in the African American cast. But remember Phylicia Rashad? She was the mum on the Cosby Show, (one of the best shows in the 80’s) but is also a Tony award winning actress in her own right, for the lead role in 2004’s A Raisin In The Sun. Joing the Americans is Adrian Lester, of BBC’s Hustle who will play Big Daddy’s son, Brick.

This production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is also directed by Rashad’s sister, Debbie Allen, who starred in Fame and won awards for her choreography on the film and TV series.

Despite the pedigree of the cast, the play should stand on its feet due to the story: a steamy American south setting and the politics of a family who has have gathered to celebrate the patriarch’s birthday lead to explosive altercations. It’s quite possibly one of the best known plays in American Literature and the chance to see a Tennessee Williams play on stage shouldn’t be missed.

Cat On a Hot Tin Roof previews from 21st November 2009 and is booking until 10th April 2010. Let’s hope that it is able to play out its limited run. 

Don’t miss out, get your Cat On A Hot Tin Roof tickets here.

Another original musical bites the dust.

Despite being a multiple Tony award winner, and receiving 5 star reviews from the London critics, Spring Awakening is to close at the Novello Theatre on the 30th May.

Reminds me of another Broadway hit at the Novello that just didn’t fly over here…anyone remember The Drowsy Chaperone?

Teenage angst is at the forefront of Spring Awakening, but it also highlights some very serious issues, stressing that adolescence isn’t always about school dances and football games. However, it seems the groundbreaking production, even with its awards and critical acclaim, does not have the ticket sales to keep going. It’s a shame, as it’s one of the most diverse and exciting things I’ve seen in the West End for a long time.

If you fancy rocking out with the tormented teens, there’s still time. Tickets are available at a discount until the end of the month. Buy your Spring Awakening tickets here.

The daffodils are beginning to emerge from the ground, and now that it’s daylight for more than 5 hours a day, I’m not staggering around in the dark and bumping into walls, (or anything else I may have left lying about) when I drag myself out of bed in the morning. Thankfully, the Northern Hemisphere is definitely moving towards my favourite season…. Spring.

A Spring of another sort is also on the move…Spring Awakening, the Tony award winning musical is coming to the West End.

Based on an 1891 German play about adolescents on a journey of sexual awareness and discovery, Spring Awakening started as an off-Broadway production but very quickly made its way to “The Great White Way”, where it won 8 Tony awards. Earlier this year, it made its UK debut at the Lyric Hammersmith and will now have its West End Premiere when it opens at the Novello on the 21st March.

Spring Awakening Invades Beverly Hills

I have a little confession to make….I watch the new 90210. It’s a guilty pleasure, but brings me straight back the angst ridden high school days of the early ’90s…when the combination of plaid shirts and choker necklaces was cool. I realise that the topic of conversation has abruptly changed and my teenage telly tendencies seem a little out of place in this blog, but here is the connection: if you also indulge in this harmless rehash of high school fun….you will already know one of the songs from Spring Awakening! That’s right, the musical that the kids at West Beverly High performed a few episodes back was Spring Awakening, which highlighted the edgy rock song “Mamma Who Bore Me.”

So…Spring Awakening made it to Broadway, then London’s West End and was also featured on 90210…it doesn’t get any better!

Spring Awakening is just the musical to help us along into the warmer days and shorter nights….booking now until the 31st October 2009. Buy your Spring Awakening tickets here.

Hamlet London: When I first heard the news, I immediately let out a hearty laugh in response to my sheer excitement and curiosity. What’s this you say? Is it true Jude Law and David Tennant to play Hamlet in the West-End? I can’t think of anything more scandalous and absolutely wonderful. Two actors, with different skills and aesthetics, set to play one of the most demanding and intense roles in theatre history. Get bloody ready folks – it’s about to get messy.

2x Hamlet London = Once in a lifetime…

It is not often that such a monumental occasion graces the West-End; but frankly I’m looking forward to it. I’m not a huge Dr.Who fan (stop waving your fists about, I watched Tennant in Harry Potter and loved it!), but I have come to know that this role has been institutionalised in Britain; Tennant packs a lot of heat. As for Jude “man-pretty” Law, his credits in the silicone (oops, did I just say that?) valley of Hollywood is more notable than his previous stints on stage with Oscar Nominations strapped to his proverbial belt. Do you think he’ll be allowed to slather on the bronzer by the way? Law’s Hamlet may need a sun-kissed glow… it is seemingly his red carpet standby.

So, where and when can we expect the showdown? You want the dirty details?  Be prepared for a theatrical battle set to commence this 3rd of December as the RSC version will kick off at the Novello Theatre. The Donmar’s production of Hamlet isn’t scheduled to ignite until May 29th allowing the Royal Shakespeare Company to hit up Theatreland first.

It is no secret that David Tennant is a well trained actor with plenty of experience on stage and enough praise to last him a lifetime. Performances of the RSC production finish in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Nov. 15th after a great run that began in July ‘08.  It has been wagered that this contemporary version of Hamlet (which sees Tennant looking like a straight-up bum in some scenes) will differ in many ways to the Donmar interpretation, to be directed by the talented Kenneth Branagh (so I have a crush…don’t judge me). Read more