West End Musicals
Billy Elliot
Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall
Victoria Palace Theatre
London
SW1E 5EA
Tel: 0844 248 5000
Nearest Tube: Victoria (Victoria, District & Circle Lines)
Show Times: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Thursday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Prices: £19.50 – £65.00
Length: 3 hours
Synopsis
Set in 1984 in a mining town in County Durham, Billy Elliot is about a boy who lives with his father. His Father wants him to take up boxing but Billy has other ideas. In an area where ‘men are men’ Billy defies the norm and follows his secret passion for dance and ballet. He starts having secret ballet lessons and eventually wins a place at the Royal Ballet School.
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Blood Brothers
By Willy Russell
Phoenix Theatre
Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H 0JP
Tel: 0844 871 7627
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern Lines)
Show Times: Monday – Saturday at 7.45pm
Matinees: Thursday at 3.00pm; Saturday at 4.00pm
Prices: £26.50 – £55.00
Length: 2 hours 45mins
Synopsis
Set in Liverpool, Blood Brothers is a captivating and moving tale of twins, Mickey and Eddie who due to the desperate circumstances of their Mother were separated at birth. Mickey stayed with his birth Mother and Eddie was given to a rich couple who could not have children of their own. The story tracks their lives when eventually they meet again with tragic consequences.
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Chicago
Based on a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins
Cambridge Theatre
Earlham Street
London
WC2H 9HU
Tel: 0844 412 4652
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)
Show Times: Monday – Thursday at 8.00pm
Friday at 5.00pm & 8.30pm
Saturday at 3.00pm & 8.00pm
Prices: £25.00 – £59.00
Length: 2 hours 15 mins
Synopsis
Set in the mid twenties in America. A small time chorus girl named Roxie Hart who is married to a hopeless but harmless character by the name of Amos is having an affair with Fred Casley. Fred’s attraction is that he says he can make her a star. He strings her along for a long time but stardom never beckons and when Roxie realizes she murders Fred in a fit of rage.
Whilst in prison she hooks up with Velma who herself is doing time for the murder of her husband and her sister who she found out were having sexual relations.
Velma is introduced to a hotshot lawyer by the name of Billy Flynn by prison matron ‘Mama’ Morton.
Billy, in an attempt to get Velma’s case quashed creates enough mayhem to get Velma splashed across the daily papers. Velma rapidly becomes Queen of the Scandal sheets.
Roxie, realizing this may also help her case urges Amos to hire Billy Flynn too. Billy does the same job for Roxie has he had for Velma and soon it becomes a ratings war.
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Dreamboats And Petticoats
By Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran
Playhouse Theatre
Northumberland Avenue
London
WC2N 5DE
Tel: 0870 060 6631
Nearest Tube: Embankment (Bakerloo and District & Circle Lines)
Show Times: Monday – Friday at 7.30pm
Saturday at 4.00pm & 8.00pm
Matinees: Thursday at 3.00pm
Prices: £25.00 – £50.00
Length: 2 hours 20mins
Synopsis
It’s the early 60s. Two friends, Bobby and Norman who are incidentally both musicians enter a national song writing competition. But this is not all they are competing for. Both have eyes for the lovely Sue. That is until Bobby notices that Lauran is an accomplished piano player. A tale of love, fame and rock & roll!
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Les Miserables
by Victor Hugo
Queen’s Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1D 6BA
Tel: 0844 482 5160
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo & Piccadilly Lines)
Show Times: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Prices: £20.00 – £59.00
Length: 3 hours
Synopsis
The story of Inspector Javert’s quest to capture an escaped convict named Jean Valjean. Valjean, who by nature was an honest man was jailed for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving family. When Valjean is released after 20 years in prison he is taken in by a kindly Bishop.
Even after the kindness shown to him he steals some silverware from the Bishop. Once again he is caught but at the trial the Bishop speaks up for him proclaiming that the silver candlesticks were a gift to Valjean. In parting the Bishop tells Valjean to learn from this experience and to also treat others in the kind way he had been treated.
In the years to come Valjean steadily rises in society to become Mayor of his village. He also runs a successful business.
When Inspector Javert joins the local police force he eventually recognizes Valjean and becomes suspicious. Suspicions that eventually cannot be upheld. In the meantime Valjean forms a relationship with an ex-factory worker. Fantine had been sacked because of feelings at the time towards her illegitimate daughter. Having no support she turns to prostitution and finally arrested. Whilst in prison she becomes ill and on her death bed Jean Valjean promises to raise her daughter, Cosette.
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The Lion King
Book By Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
Lyceum Theatre
Wellington Street
London
WC2E 7DA
Tel: 0844 844 0005
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)
Show Times: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday & Saturday at 2.00pm; Sunday at 3.00pm
(Please note these times are up to 3rd October 2010. From 5th October 2010, matinees will revert to 2.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. There will be extra performances on and around the Xmas holidays. Please call nearer the time for verification)
Prices: £27.00 – £77.00
Length: 2 hours 50mins
Synopsis
A film that has translated fantastically to the London stage.
When the young Lion Prince, Simba is born, Scar his evil uncle has his nose put out of joint because up until this time he was next in line to the throne. Scar plots to kill his brother King Musafa and Simba. In the act that follows King Musafa dies but samba does not. Believing that his Father’s death was his fault, Simba leaves the kingdom.
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Mamma Mia!
Book by Catherine Johnson. Music & Lyrics by Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus
Prince Of Wales Theatre
Coventry Street
London
W1D 6AS
Tel: 0844 482 5115
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly & Bakerloo Lines)
Show Times: Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm
Friday at 5.00pm & 8.30pm; Saturday at 3.00pm & 7.30pm
Prices: £20.00 – £62.50
Length: 2 hours 35mins
Synopsis
Set on a small Greek island, single mother Donna has done her best to raise her daughter Sophie whilst also running a successful hotel. Sophie is longing to know who her real father is a secret kept from her by her mother all these years. When Sophie decides to get married she invites three possible suitors. When she walks down the aisle she wants it to be on the arm of her father.
When the three characters from Donna’s past arrive on the island, Sophie discovers the identity of her real father while donna realizes that she is not too old for a little romance herself. Features 22 of ABBA’s greatest hits.
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Oliver!
By Lionel Bart
Drury Lane, Theatre Royal
Catherine Street
London
WC2B 5JF
Tel: 0844 412 2955
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)
Show Times: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Prices: £17.50 – £65.00
Length: 2 hours 30mins
Synopsis
Set in London towards the end of the 19th century this is the story of an orphan who falls in with a street gang run by the infamous Fagin. Fagin has an army of street urchins who everyday go out and steal for him to help pay for their keep.
Whilst there, he is introduced to the notorious and dangerous criminal Bill Sykes. Oliver is sent out to steal under the watchful eye of the Artful Dodger. He stands back to watch how the Dodger does it, it goes wrong, they all run off but only Oliver is caught. He winds up in court. A kindly gentleman who was told by a shopkeeper what went on, appeared in court in defence of Oliver.
Oliver was released into the man’s custody and was taken home to his beautiful house. It was whilst staying with the gentleman that it was realized that Oliver was related. The gang under Bill Sykes direction plotted to kidnap Oliver just in case he ‘blew the whistle’ on them. This did not sit well with Nancy, Bill’s girlfriend and she plotted against Bill. This ended in murderous consequences…
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Phantom of the Opera
Based on Gaston Leroux’s Novel. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Her Majesty’s Theatre
Haymarket
London
SW1Y 4QL
Tel: 0844 482 5158
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and BakerlooLines)
Show Times: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Tuesday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Prices: £20.00 – £59.00
Length: 2 hours 30mins
Synopsis
A timely accident befalls Carlotta the leading lady of the Paris Opera House. This allows young starlet, Christine a chance to move up and shine, the chance she has always been waiting for. Some say the accident was the work of a ‘spectral presence’ namely the Phantom of the Opera.
On her debut performance Christine is brilliant and on this night she meets an old childhood friend, Raoul. Raoul is now a wealthy nobleman. That same night she discovers that the Phantom of the Opera is not just a legend. Deep in the bowels of the theatre lives a brilliant but disfigured composer.
He is immediately taken with Christine’s beauty and adducts her to his dwelling offering to write an opera especially for her. The Phantom scares her and thereafter she is very wary of him. Meanwhile Christine and Raoul become closer which make the Phantom jealous and in his rage he attempts to kill Christine……..as he had Carlotta.
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Stomp
Created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas
Ambassadors Theatre
West Street
London
WC2H 9ND
Tel: 0844 811 2334
Nearest Tube: Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly Lines)
Show Times: Monday, Thursday – Saturday at 8.00pm
Matinees: Thursday & Saturday at 3.00pm
Sunday at 3.00pm &6.00pm
Prices: £29.00 – £49.50
Length: 1 hour 45mins
(Please note there is no interval)
Synopsis
A very energetic production where a cast of eight use dustbins, boots, brooms and even the kitchen sink to create a cacophony of percussion music. With rapid hand clapping that adds to the music and more than adequately replaces words.
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Sweet Charity
By Neil Simon
Haymarket, Theatre Royal
Haymarket
London
SW1Y 4HT
Tel: 0844 481 1870
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines)
Show Times: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Prices: £17.50 – £55.00
Length: 2 hours 15mins
Synopsis
Charity Hope Valentine, a hopeless romantic, always looking for love and always finding it in the wrong places. After a series of bad relationships Charity leaves the slimy dance hall where she eaks out a meagre living and looks for pastures new at the local employment agency.
At the employment Agency charity meets the upright Oscar Lindquist. They start dating but Charity does not reveal her chequered past. Their romance blossoms and they decide to get engaged and have the party at the dance hall. Oscar discovers some truths about Charity and his puritanical personality takes over. Oscar decides to walk out on Charity. With the help of some flower children Charity picks up her life and begins to live again.
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Jersey Boys
By Marshall Brickman/Rick Elice
Prince Edward Theatre
Old Compton Street
London
W1V 6HS
Tel: 0844 481 1870
Nearest Tube: Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern Lines)
Show Times: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday at 3.00pm
Prices: £25.70 – £80.50
Length: 2 hours 45mins
Synopsis
This is the legendary story of four boys that grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. They had a choice, get in the army, get in the mob or get famous. Follow the rise of one of the biggest pop phenomenons of all time, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
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Thriller Live
Originally conceived and created by Adrian Grant. Features the songs of Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five
Lyric Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1Y 7HA
Tel: 0844 412 4661
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines)
Show Times: Tuesday – Friday & Sunday at 7.30pm
Saturday at 8.00pm
Matinee: Saturday at 4.00pm; Sunday at 3.30pm
Prices: £23.50 – £50.50
Length: 2 hours 30 mins
Synopsis
A scintillating story of revenge. Madeleine, a beautiful but traumatized young 15 year old is picked up at a bus stop by a smooth talking guy named Tony. Madeleine is traumatized because as a child she was raped by a dirty vagrant.
Tony gets Madeleine hooked on heroin and forces her into prostitution also disfiguring her badly at which point Madeleine revolts. She gets more bad news. Her parents commit suicide and she snaps. She starts taking lessons in karate, shooting and stunt driving patiently waiting for the time when she can take her revenge on the people that have done her wrong.
Features the music of Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.
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Fun of the Fair
By David Essex
Garrick Theatre
Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H 0HH
Tel: 0844 579 1974
Nearest Tube: Leicester Square (Piccadilly & Northern Lines)
Show Times: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm; Sunday at 4pm
Prices: £48.00 – £88.00
(There are restricted view seats ranging from £27.00 – £35.00)
Length: 2 hours 5mins
Synopsis
“Roll Up, Roll Up and see the main attraction”. Set against the backdrop of a travelling funfair this production has phenomenal stunts, crafty cons and huge amounts of rock’n’roll. It features some of Essex’s biggest hits such as Gonna Make You A Star, Silver Dream Machine, Rock On and many more.
The ticket prices quoted are indicative, some being subject to a booking fee If booking on-line or by telephone. If you intend to take children, always check when booking to see if there are any restrictions.
