The self confidence of the West End is showing itself through an influx of high profile, high brow plays. While rumours are still rife about the arrival of more light hearted theatre fare, such as Legally Blonde, The Little Mermaid, Xanadu and Shrek, the reality is currently much more refined.
Perhaps inspired by the exquisitely cultured tastes of the recent Olivier Awards, the West End has become rather more adventurous. The Wyndham’s Theatre is currently working with the revered Donmar Warehouse with a culture vulture season of plays featuring some of Britain’s most lauded dramatic actors, including Kenneth Branagh and the luminary Dame Judi Dench. This year has also seen a surge of successful plays from non-West End and regional venues, with Duet For One and War Horse still to arrive in glitzy Theatreland from the straight laced Almeida and National Theatre respectively. The West End will even be hosting two repertory companies from May. Sam Mendes’ ambitious venture The Bridge Project arriving at the Old Vic fresh from a sellout season in New York and a world tour, and Ronald Harwood’s companion plays Collaboration and Taking Sides coming in from Chichester’s Minerva Theatre.
It may be cynical to suggest that with the minimal success of the larger West End musicals at the Oliviers, the West End has dumbed down in what is put on. Perhaps smaller scale shows in fringe venues do have more artistic integrity, but it is shows such as We Will Rock You, Wicked and Mamma Mia! that are breaking box office records. Also judging by the shocking lashing the Judi Dench vehicle Madame de Sade received from critics after opening at the Wyndham’s this week, it seems that big, bright entertainment is what the West End does best.
