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Dateline:
25th June, 2006
2005 a Good Year for
the West End
In spite of the effects of the terrorist attacks of 7/7, 2005 saw an
2.4% increase in attendances at West End shows to 12,318,625, according
to the Box Office Data Report 2005 published by SOLT last week. The
number of performances also reached at new record at of 17,416.
New ENO Chairman
The troubled board of English National Opera, whose chair Martin Smith
resigned
amid much controversy and bitterness in December last year, has a new
chairman. Vernon Ellis who was vice-chair under Smith and became acting
chair on his resignation, has now been appointed to the post.
"I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to continue
in the role of Chairman in a permanent capacity," Ellis said."
I have been going regularly to ENO since the mid seventies and enjoy
being part of such an innovative and adventurous company. There is a
great team here, presenting great work."
His appointment was welcomed by chief executive Loretta Tomasi. "We
are delighted that Vernon Ellis will be ENO’s new Chairman,"
she said. "He is passionate about the company and our artistic
ambition. We look forward to working with him as we move forward."
Dancing in Northumberland Avenue
The Motown musical Dancing in the Streets is to move to the Playhouse
Theatre in Northumberland Avenue on 1st August, booking through to 6th
January, 2007. The show will close at its current theatre, the Aldwych,
on 22nd July. Its first home was the Cambridge Theatre, where it opened
on 8th July, 2005, and moved to the Aldwych on 27th April this year.
Vegemite Tales
at The Venue
Australian writer Melanie Tait's comedy The Vegemite Tales will
open at The Venue, Leicester Square, on 2nd August (previews from 27th
July). It is booking until 23rd September. Directed by Bill Buckhurst,
the cast is Blair McDonough Neighbours), Jessica Gerger, Andy
Leonard, Sarah McGlade, Andrew Robb and Tom Sangster.
The play began life at the Edinburgh
Fringe in 2003, where BTG reviewer gave it five stars, and played
at the Old Red Lion in London in 2004
and at the Riverside Studios in 2005.
This will be its first West End outing.
Extending
The following London shows have extended their booking periods:
- Footloose the Musical (Novello) to 11th November
- Billy Elliot the Musical (Victoria Palace) to 31st March,
2007
- Spamalot (Palace) will now begin previews on 30th September and
is booking until 26th May, 2007
- Fuerzabruta (Roundhouse) to 31st August
Index
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Index G-K
Index L-Q
Index R-Z
News
Archive A-L
News Archive M-Z
Production News Archive
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