Theatre in London

Most British cities have a theatre, but London has the greatest number. There are over 50 theatres in London's West End, the area in London with most theatres, and about 35 smaller fringe theatres.

In recent years, musicals have been very successful. About 5½ million people, many of them tourists, go to see a musical every year in London. The best-known contemporary composer of musicals is Andrew Lloyd Webber. At the moment there are four of his productions in London. Cats is his longest-running musical.

Going to the theatre in Britain is not only popular, but also expensive. Not many young people can afford to go. It is possible to get cheaper tickets by going to afternoon performances called matinees or by buying stand-bys, half-price tickets which are sold half an hour before a performance starts.

Michael Vaughan-Rees, Geraldine Sweeney, Picot Cassidy: In Britain; Cornelsen Verlag, 2000, page 47