Dine for Free
June 24, 2009
Great value dinner and show packages
This summer enjoy a free dinner at a host of top West End restaurants when booking tickets to see a show.
Many of the dinner packages in this special promotion include a free dinner AND money off the theatre ticket – making this a great-value way of dining out and enjoying the best of West End theatre.
The best restauants – on us!
Restaurants in the promotion include some of the best and tastiest places to eat in the city, including the Hampshire, Christopher’s, Chez Gerard at the Opera Terrace, Thia Square, Livebait, Ping Pong, The Langley, Salvador Amanda and Ascots.
Let us book your table
All our restaurants are guaranteed to be close to the theatre of your choice and we’ll even book the table for you to make sure your evening goes perfectly to plan.
Many of the packages include a choice of either pre or post theatre dining, allowing you to choose whether to eat before or after the show.
How to book
To book these special packages simply choose the show you wish to see and find out which restaurants we have on offer.
Free dinner at these great shows
See all our dinner packages
See a full list of all of our theatre and dinner packages here
Brian Conley to join Hairspray
April 23, 2009
Save £25 on tickets to Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Brian Conley is to join the cast of Hairspray, replacing Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad, from Monday 27 July. Also joining the cast will be newcomer Chloe Hart playing Tracy Turnblad and Liam Tamne (Wicked) as Link Larkin.
Recently Nigel Planer (The Young Ones) and Verity Rushworth (Emmerdale) joined the Hairspray team. The musical continues to break all box office records at the Shaftesbury Theatre and is booking until April 2010.
Brian Conley is one of the UK’s biggest entertainment stars with credits spanning musicals, television, film, comedy and variety. His career highlights include multiple series of “The Brian Conley Show” for ITV, regular appearances at “The Royal Variety Show”, television comedies “The Grimleys” and “Time After Time” and lead roles in hit musicals “Me & My Girl”, “Jolson” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, as well as many sold-out comedy and music tours and pantomimes.
In a recent press announcement by the production, Brian said: “I’ve done a lot in my career, but wearing a dress and heels every night and being married to Nigel Planer weren’t things I was expecting to be doing all at the same time, and in front of thousands of people! I’m absolutely delighted to be back in the West End and joining one of the most uplifting, happy and, not to mention, successful shows in town. Being part of something that brings a smile to people’s faces, especially in these troubled times, is a real treat and I can’t wait to get on stage at the Shaftesbury.”
Save £25 on tickets to Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Phantom sequel Love Never Dies to open in London
March 27, 2009
Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s new sequel to The Phantom of the Opera – “Love Never Dies” – will have its world premiere in London, as reported today by Baz Bamigboye in the Daily Mail.
It was initially believed that the new blockbusting musical would open simultaneously in New York, London and Shanghai, but it now appears that managing the logistics of this has proved too complex. However, the show will still break new ground in opening productions around the world in quick succession – starting with London and then following with Toronto, Shanghai and then Broadway.
In London, the show will play at the Adelphi Theatre, owned by Lloyd-Webber’s Really Useful Group, in late October or early November.
Lloyd-Webber also revealed to Baz that, as predicted by previous rumours, Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess will launch the show in the two main leads.
Variety recently reported that the show would open in Toronto at the Canon Theater, where the original Phantom launched in Canada in 1989, although Lloyd-Webber has now confirmed that it will open after London at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto and then go to Broadway.
The show’s music is written by Lloyd Webber with a book by Ben Elton, who has more than proved his musical credentials with We Will Rock You, which continues to pack them in and celebrates the start of its 8th year in London from the end of April.
The book is based on an original idea by best selling author Frederick Forsyth, and is set in Coney Island in 1907.
Ramin Karimloo (pictured) is currently appearing as the Phantom in the West End and will continue in the role in the new production. The actor was born in Iran and brought up in Canada.
A notice placed on the Actors’ Equity Association website says of the plot that, “the mysterious “Maestro” who runs the theatre at Coney Island announces a one-off concert by legendary Parisian soprano Christine Daaé. Her arrival in New York with husband Raoul, Victome de Chagny and son Gustave, and their subsequent meeting with the “Maestro,” bring the cataclysmic events of 10 years earlier at the Paris Opera crashing back into all their lives.”
Director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell – the dream team from the Hairspray musical – will stage the show.
O’Brien said to Baz that Lloyd-Webber was enormously passionate about the project: “‘It is like the last flowering of a great era of lyric romanticism – the theatre doesn’t seem to have that any more.”
It is unclear whether Jospeh, currently playing at the Adelphi Theatre starring Gareth Gates, will extend its run until Love Never Dies Opens.
BOOK TICKETS TO THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – PLUS SAVE ON THEATRE AND DINNER PACKAGES
Original article published 20 March 2009
Nigel Planer to join Hairspray; Michaell Ball extends run
January 19, 2009
The producers of Hairspray have announced that Nigel Planer and Verity Rushworth are to join the cast of the multi-award winning musical, beginning on Monday 2 February. Nigel takes over the role of ‘Wilbur Turnblad’, husband of larger than life ‘Edna’ played by Michael Ball. Verity will play ‘Penny Pingleton’, best friend of ‘Tracy Turnblad’ played by Leanne Jones.
Nigel Planer is best known as Neil in ‘The Young Ones. His numerous West End credits include ‘Chicago’, ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ and ‘Wicked’. Verity joined the cast of ‘Emmerdale’ in the role of Donna Windsor-Dingle at the age of 12, and has gone on to become one of the show’s best loved characters. She leaves the programme onscreen at the end of January 2009. She also appeared in the 2007 season of ITV’s ‘Soapstar Superstar’.
Current and original lead performers Michael Ball, Leanne Jones and Ben James-Ellis have all extended their contracts to remain with the show and will now perform until Saturday 25 July 2009. The role of ‘Edna Turnblad’ is the longest continuing part that Michael has ever played in the West End.
The smash hit award-winning musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre won ‘Best Musical’ as well as ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ for Michael Ball and ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ for Leanne Jones at the 2008 Olivier Awards.
Free hotels offer
January 12, 2009
Free London hotel rooms on offerin major new West End theatre promotion
Thousands of free rooms included in the price of a ticket to 13 major West End shows
Westendtheatre.com has announced a major new promotion offering free hotel rooms in London when buying a theatre ticket.Shows included in the promotion include successful musicals Hairspray, Joseph, Grease, Sunset Boulevard, Chicago, Billy Elliot, Wicked, The Sound of Music and Zorro.
Running until 31st March 2009, the promotion features a range of hotels across London. A 3* hotel is offered free when booking one of the 13 shows available, with also the opportunity to upgrade to a 4* or 5* hotel for a small additional fee. Prices start at only £44.75 per person for a twin room and tickets to a show, based on two people sharing.
www.westendtheatre.com/hotels.php
