Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia, the Abba musical, is 11 years old this month and it has become a firm favourite for theatre breaks. We went along to see the show recently and I can really see why it remains so popular. It was a terrific night out, full of fun, laughter and good music. We came out of the theatre surprised to find ourselves back in London, always a good sign. Mamma Mia – it’s not the film Well, we’ve all seen and enjoyed the film of Mamma Mia and the show transports us to that magical Greek island. This is done partly with a deceptively simple set and lighting effects but mostly it’s the acting and the music that transports us. The show follows a slightly different tack to the film and concentrates a little bit more on the younger members of the cast. In the film Sophie (the daughter) and Sky (her fiance) are quite minor characters in many ways. On stage this changes and some of the most memorable songs are performed by these two. It’s Abba but not as we know it. The music is undoubtedly Abba and you do find that you tend to know all the words. The difference is that the songs have been transformed into musical theatre and suddenly you can hear the strength of the melodies and the power of the words. I’ve never been fond of Abba but I enjoyed the show immensely. For Abba fans, and there were quite a few of them there, it is total bliss. The show is timeless and ageless I was worried that the show might have dated but I shouldn’t have been. It still seems as fresh, fun and charming as it did when it opened. If you are old enough to remember Abba the first time around, you’ll love it even if you wouldn’t have been seen dead listening to something so ‘uncool’ at the time! The costumes are fun, especially the Donnna and the Dynamites, Abba at it’s most kitsch ! The ensemble’s costumes in the hen night scene did find me occasionally wondering if I could revive some old 70’s favourites before common sense took over
But what really impressed me was the age range of people enjoying the show. Sitting next to me was an Indian lady who had brought her grandchildren, two delightful little girls (ages 6 and 8). They all loved the show and Grandma joined in with many of the songs! There were lots of children at the performance I went to and they were all very well behaved, perhaps because what was going on on stage really caught their attention. Even on a Monday night the cast were full of energy and fizz. They created a real party atmosphere and by the end of the evening everyone was on their feet singing, clapping and dancing along.

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Weekend theatre breaks in London are becoming a very popular way of visiting the UK capital. A weekend theatre break usually consists of two nights in a London hotel and tickets to see a West End show. Usually you arrive in London on Friday evening. You either choose to see your show straight away on the Friday evening or book your show for Saturday night. If you choose to see your show on Friday you might worry about getting a pre-theatre meal. However most of the restaurants in the West End offer pre-theatre menus which are served from 5:30 giving you lots of time to get to your show. I prefer to book the show for Saturday evening if at all possible. It gives you Friday night to relax, explore a little and have an unrushed evening meal. Then a little gentle sight-seeing and maybe shopping on the Saturday. I like to have a really English treat, afternoon tea, somewhere like Fortnum and Masons. This needs to be booked in advanced. Some of theatre break agencies will let you book when you book this when your break and even offer a discount. Afternoon tea is really a small meal not just a snack so it should see you through everything but the longest shows. After the show, most end between 10pm and 10:30pm, you can easily find somewhere to have a spot of supper. I am very fond of La Tasca which does fresh, tasty Spanish tapas until quite late on Saturdays. It is great for sharing and you can order as much or as little as you want. The it is back to your hotel for a nightcap and to relax. This is when you will be really glad you chose a central London hotel, somewhere within walking distance of the theatre is ideal. This is so much pleasanter than dealing with the tube, black cabs or rickshaws. After theatre tapas? If you are an early riser and you’ve travelled fairly light Sunday morning can be a great time for sight-seeing in London. The city is amazingly quiet on Sunday mornings and you can see busy areas like Westminster without having to deal with the crowds.

Happy New Year for 2010 from the Theatre Breaks in London blog team. It’s been a great year in London’s West End with some surprise hits and some unfortunate flops as well, and we look forward to 2010 especially with the opening of the Phantom of The Opera continuation Love Never Dies and the new Wizard of Oz. January is a busy tine for the travel and entertainments industries so we hope you all manage to find the best theatre breaks in London bargains out of all the new deals and offers floating about at this time of year.

Between Christmas and New Year, in January, February and at spring time are all good times for going on weekend theatre breaks in London. All the top shows are there in the West End waiting, the hotels are not too busy and the city nightlife is just the thing to keep you going during the long winter. Weekend Theatre Breaks in London The best thing about weekend theatre breaks in London is that you don’t have to take any time off of work to get the short break in. Zip down the country on a Friday afternoon instead of going home early and you can be taking your seat in one of London’s grand old theatres ready to take in one of the bog musicals just as your colleagues are sitting down at home to an evening meal. So that gives you the whole of Saturday to mooch about in the capital, take in a museum or gallery, stroll by the river  or whatever takes your fancy to do in London. Make your way home leisurely on Saturday afternoon, early evening or else book in for a two nighter and have a second great night out in the West End.

Breaks in London London seems such an industrious city with working people rushing about all the time and yet on any one single day there are probably tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of visitors taking some kind of breaks in London. In this blog we mainly concentrate on theatre breaks in London because that’s the name of the blog but within that whole idea of city breaks with a hotel and theatre show combined in one package, there are many different ways of putting it all together, so that comes down in the end mainly to individual choice. Hotel breaks in London can of course come with or without theatre tickets, and the attraction of a top musical show isn’t what brings everybody to the West end even. Some might come for sporting, shopping or concert breaks in London. And then there’s the question of whether weekend breaks are better than midweek breaks in London when the show tickets might be for better seats but the hotel room have less availability. The same parent might choose to bring the kids for family breaks in London to meet one purpose but on another occasion just a partner for romantic breaks in London with a fantastic meal at one of the numerous smart restaurants in the city.

Weekend theatre breaks in London Weekend theatre breaks in London are a good way to fit in a mini holiday. You may not be able to afford the time or money for a full blown break but a weekend in London with a show can be enough to make you feel that you have actually had a holiday. It is all down to very careful planning. Choose your travel times You have to choose your travel times with care so that you make the most of your weekend. If you decide to travel by rail you need to watch out for any planned engineering works that could add frustration especially to your return journey. These are often planned for Sundays so if you can take an extra day and travel back on Monday you can avoid the problem all together. Hotels often offer an extra night for a very reasonable amount and you get an extra day in London. See below for more about Sundays in the city. It would be a shame to spoil your relaxed mood with a disrupted homeward journey. Luckily you can easily check using the trainline.com and find out if there is any work planned for your chosen dates. If there is then it might be best to re-think your dates or travel to London by car. How many days are there in a weekend? Friday If you travel on Friday and return on Monday you can have 3 nights and 2 full days in London. This is ideal if you can manage it as for just 1 extra day off work you can turn a weekend into a mini-break. Travel on Friday afternoon and you can arrive at your hotel, freshen up and go out for a nice meal, or an evening’s entertainment. Saturday Then you have all day Saturday for shopping, galleries or what ever takes your fancy. After an early (5:30-6:30 ish) pre-theatre meal you can get to the theatre in plenty of time, pick up your tickets from the box office, have a relaxing drink and be settled ready for the performance. Most shows finish around 10 – 10:30pm so after the show you will have time for a stroll round the West End, a light supper, a nightcap somewhere or even a club if  that’s what takes your fancy. Then make your way back to your hotel, which, if you were wise when you were booking, will be only a short walk away. Sunday London is a different place on a Sunday. The tourist ‘traps’ are less busy, especially in the morning. London isn’t a city that wakes up early on Sundays so if you are an early bird you can see the sights before most people are even awake. London is famous for its street markets and these are great fun on a Sunday morning. Try Covent Garden’s Jubilee Market or, if you are feeling adventurous, try Brick Lane or Columbia Rd Flower Market. There’s lots of street food available and most of it is very good, so lunch won’t be a problem. After lunch you’ve got the luxury of a relaxing afternoon ahead of you. If you are into art you might try having a look at Tate Modern and if you are really energetic why not take the Tate to Tate ferry that runs between that and Tate Britain?  Or just have a stroll along the Southbank. There’s usually something going on and it’s a great spot for people watching. If the weather is not so good there is lots of indoor entertainment too, maybe even visit the TKTS booth in Leicester Square and fit in an extra show! More shows are doing matinees on Sundays so it is definitely worth checking.  You could even just find a good pub and settle in. Fullers pubs are quite traditional, have very nice real ale and are famous for their pies. If you are near Covent Garden you could try a real Cornish pub, complete with pasties and Cornish beer. Monday morning After the rush hour, and a good breakfast, you check out of your hotel for a leisurely journey home. So you can see how weekend theatre breaks in London really can work for you as a mini holiday if you plan them carefully. a

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Theatre Breaks Roundup for 2009 Winter 2009 is here and I’m just wondering what sort of a year this has been for theatre breaks. There’s been a recent survey that assures us reality TV has actually boosted ticket sales. The  box offices are claiming the credit crunch has had little effect on bookings with theatre usually full. So what’s been the reality? Theatre Breaks Shows In terms of shows one or two have closed early but the old favourites like We Will Rock You carry on. Avenue Q was saved from oblivion by popular demand and has moved to a new theatre. The Lion King is as popular as ever and proudly boasts that it is so well booked that it has NEVER released tickets to the reduced ticket agencies. Some good shows reached the end of their natural life and wonderful though Spamalot was it really was time for it to say goodbye. It’s been replaced by Priscilla and that has been a fair swap. Carousel never really quite hit the spot and its closure wasn’t any great surprise. It was sad to see the end of Cabaret and a shame they couldn’t take a leaf out of Chicago’s book and find a constant stream of new familiar faces to keep us going back.  Joseph went too and no doubt was mourned by thousands of Lee Mead fans but it was another one that seemed ready to go. No doubt it will be back someday. One show I thought should have done better was Spring Awakening, which I just loved. All that energy and a theatre full of young people the night we went. I felt positively ancient, and that’s a good thing! (honest!)

Oliver has of course been a total triumph with Jodie Prenger making a real name for herself. Who would have thought she’d still be there doing 8 shows a week nearly a year later? What a star. I saw her at West End live this year and she has a super voice and a lovely stage presence. She managed to upstage Christopher Biggins, to great comic effect and that takes some talent for comedy! I think we’ll see more of Jodie once she moves on but for now she seems happy where she is. She’s on her 3rd Fagin and this is the one I’d really like to see. I think Griff Reese Jones will make a great Fagin and be well worth seeing. Hairspray has seen some major changes with the departure of Micheal Ball. Still Phil Jupitus is doing a grand job and Brain Connely was very well received in the part. I wonder how long Micheal will stay away, I’m sure I heard somewhere that he’s thinking of coming back to Edna. We hope! Wicked is going from strength to strength and is the most popular musical at this witchy time of year. Kerry Ellis is just a distant memory now and Alexia Kadhim has made her own interpretation of Elphaba. I think she has a lovely voice, quite different to Kerry’s but wonderful all the same: Click here to view the embedded video. New shows coming in include Legally Blonde which I was less than keen on when first announced. Since then I’ve had a good look at the videos on youtube and listened to the cast recordings and I might just change my mind. It might be fun and has the sort of casting that makes me want to see it. What to say about Love Never Dies (apart from “I can’t wait!!”)? Well it’s definitely going to be a huge event and it should be a spectacular in the best Lloyd Webber tradition. The Coney Island setting should give it a great atmosphere, you know how creepy fairgrounds can be. We’ve all seen Scoobydoo   It’s got two fabulous stars in Sarah Boggess and Ramin Karimloo (I’ve been doing this so long I can now spell these names without flinching!) In the next part of this series of posts I’ll look at the travel aspects and prospects for theatre breaks in London 2010. a

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Breakfast At Tiffany’s Theatre Breaks in London

As war rages in Europe, Holly Golightly begins to fall in love with William, then her past catches up with her. Anna Friel in Breakfast at Tiffany’s at London’s Haymarket Now until Saturday January 9th 2010

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In the run up to Christmas some of the West End theatres stop running plays and musicals and instead offer top name comedians live on stage, which makes an opportunity for people from out of town to visit London on what we cal “Comedy Theatre Breaks in London”. A comedy theatre breaks will include tickest to the theatre for a great night out comedy show, and a room on teh night of the show in a smart hotel in central London. Last year, in 2008 for example we had Bill Baily’s comedy and music Tinselworm show and also Eddie Izzard’s amazing standup performance, both in Shaftesbury avenue theatres. This year, 2009 we have Dylan Moran, the surrealist Irish comedian who starred in cult TV sitcom “Black Books” among other things. Dylan Moran Theatre Breaks in London Dylan Moran Eddie Izzard is back this year but only for one night so it’s at the O2, where there;s a Russel Brand show too.

O2 comedy breaks – Eddie Izzard , Russel Brand

Here’s the short Theatre Breaks in London Movie made up by capturing some live spontaneous dialogue about going on theatre breaks to London, transcribing the words into text then animating with some clever software to produce a movie for the theatre breaks channel on youTube

In the video, a couple are discussing what to at the weekend and starting to make plans for a theatre break in London before going online to make the booking. The musicals considered are Mamma Mia! and We Will Rock You

My tip for theatre breaks in London in 2010 is going to be for, “Love Never Dies”, the Phantom of the Opera sequel. We don’t know all that much about it yet, but that doesn’t matter, even this early. We know the pedigree behind it, with Andrew Lloyd Webber in charge and a whole string of hit musicals behind him, but that’s not the clincher. Theatre breaks in london Anybody who has been up to London on a special trip just to see The Phantom of the Opera will be wanting to see what happens next, and that’s where Love Never Dies theatre breaks in London will pick up a certain number of devotees but there’s more. There are two books which Phantom fans may have come across. One by the original author of the novel upon which phantom the musical was based, ( that one is also called “Love Never Dies”) and a later novel by Frederick Forsyth called “The Phantom of Manhattan”.
Where I think this new musical is going to make sure of its own survival in London theatreland though, is in having Ben Elton write the playscript. Elton is the comedian, comedy writer and novelist who is behind the storyline in “We Will Rock You” which is another of the longest running West End musicals, and a long term favourite for theatre breaks in London, not just for the great classic rock songs by Queen. So with a host of talented established musical theatre stars lined up for a possible three instances of Love Never Dies worldwide, with the experience of the management, talent of the writers and the following of Phantom to build on, I can’t see Love Never Dies failing to make a permanent marl on the London theatre breaks scene.

London Breaks to see Love Never Dies The date is set for October the 8th, that’s the day when London breaks news about Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera with a mysterious announcement from the phantom himself. London breaks to see Phantom of The Opera have been a theatre goers favourite for many decades already, with many couples going to see the show more than once but soon there will be a chance to see a brand new musical based on the sequel to the original book, called “The Phantom of New York” or possible lending some of its inspiration to the Frederick Forsyth novel “The Phantom of Manhattan”

Love Never Dies theatre breaks in London

Ben Elton, the writer of Blackadder Rides Again has been hired to write the dialogue and playscript known as “the book” in the theatre world, so this will give Love Never Dies London breaks a chance of being just as possibel as We Will Rock You London breaks and Phantom of the Opera London breaks combined.

Jersey Boys Theatre Breaks in London I watched theatregoers young and old coming out of the Prince Edward Theatre into Greek Street one summer evening and they were all oozing with enthusiasm for the show. So what may have seemed an unlikely musical for the London audiences has in fact turned out to be a strong favourite for theatre breaks. The Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons which captures the heady rush to stardom of a group of ordinary boys, and that’s the kind of story which, when done well, can take the audience on a journey that pulls all the emotions in succession. For people of the right age, just the sound of the music is highly evocative but for those too young to remember, the catchy tunes and rich harmonies quickly provoke the same, fingersnapping sense of fun.

Soho Theatre Breaks with the Jersey Boys The fabulous Art Deco Prince Edward Theatre is right in the centre of London’s theatreland, by old Compton Street and Greek Street in the lively Soho area where the nightlife buzzes and a myriad of different cultures converge in the streets, shops and pavement bars.

You might try and get a hotel as close to the centre as possible, to take advantage of the freedom afforded by being able to stroll back to the quiet comfort of your private room at whatever time feel inclined to retire. The Strand Palace down by Charing Cross, St Giles Hotel up at Tottenham Court Road or any of the Drury Lane hotels would be perfect. The whole area is brimming with little bistros and restaurants all doing pre-theatre and post-theatre menus as well so whether you book in advance to eat at the hotel or else wander the streets until somewhere takes your fancy you’ll be guaranteed to find something to suit all tastes. Try not to spend too long making your mind up though! Jersey Boys Cast The London cast of Jersey Boys are all very talented singers and performers in their own right, and have got the Four Seasons’ sound down to a tee. They do also have a strong following amongst female fans who seem to split along lines of opinion as to which Jersey Boy is the best looking, but don’t worry – there are plenty of very attractive Jersey Girls in the stage show as well, and there are many more than just the main stars on stage for the breathtakingly choreographed set pieces. Jersey Boys at West End Live This promotional video follows the Jersey Boys backstage as they prepare for the West End Live event in 2008 and gives a great idea of the rapport and fun between the cast that undoubtedly helps to make the show the success it has become, putting Jersey Boys Theatre Breaks at the top of the London visitors choices. Click here to view the embedded video. ** book Jersey Boys Theatre Breaks  **

a Jersey Boys Theatre Breaks

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Les Misérables theatre breaks Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a major production in the same league as The Phantom of the Opera. The musical tells of the story of Jean Val Jean, an ex-convict who could not escape his past. Like the Phantom, Les Mis has been conducting a couple of world tours off and on over the years. I’ve never seen the play elsewhere but I have been told that the travelling cast is nowhere as good as the one based in London, not sure how true that is though. Well, when we finally got to experience it for ourselves last Saturday, it totally blew us away.

Les Miserables Cast Being a large scale production, they can boast a cast of more than two dozen, probably many. Having many recognizable characters, it’s not really possible to recycle actors and actresses to take on more than one role so the cast is very much a full one. Though the main characters generally possesses well endowed voices, the main actor to look out for is the one who take on the role of Javert, a policeman who was bent on capturing Jean Val Jean. His baritone voice carried through the theatre magnificently and you could feel his anguish when faced with the dilemma towards the end of the play. Also look out for a boy who acts as Gavroche, a young street urchin. His clear and cheeky voice captures the hopes of the youths in the chaotic situation that engulfed 19th century France. Staging Les Miserables Something that really distinguishes Les Miserables out from other shows is the use of the circular stage. By rotating the stage and the clever use of lights, props and settings can be changed while causing absolutely no disruptions to the unfolding of the drama. In fact, scenes that depict people walking across distances were done seamlessly. Look out for the scene when Jean Val Jean carried an injured Marius through the sewers and you’ll know what I mean. Les Miz – My conclusions Les Miserables , without a doubt is worth the full ticket price and perfect for the best theatre breaks in London. To those who have read the 1200-page original unabridged version of the story, this musical will bring to life those characters that have been so strongly portrayed in what was purported to be the story of the century even then. To those who are unfamiliar with the turmoil that swept 19th century France, Les Miserables will provide a strong introduction to the subject.

a Les Misérables theatre breaks review

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Chicago is simply one of the best known musicals for theatre breaks in London and despite being a bit long in the tooth it’s a perrenial favourite. The promotors of this international hit show manage to keep on coming up with unlikely special guest stars who always bring a new lease of life and interest to the show, for example this summer in London you can see Jerry Springer in the role of Flynn the lawayer. Here’s a video of Jerry helping to publicise Chicago at West End Live in London’s Leicester Square back in June 2009.

YouTube Video by Theatre breaks

Wicked theatre breaks in London might be centered around the Victoria area, with the huge Apollo theatre for Wicked being located near London Victoria station as well as several top quality hotels nearby. Go before December and you’ll have a chance to see the new Elphaba, wicked witch perfoermed by Alexia Khadime who is surely making for a superb replacement for Kerry Ellis. This video is from the West End Live show last weekend, and gives a low key idea of what Alexia can do I think.

While in the Victoria area for a Wicked theatre break, I’d head south down to the riverbank and take a look at the Tate Britain art museum if that’s your kind of thing. It makes a nice change from the more popular Tate modern these days. On the day of the show why not have an enjoyable bar snack style lunch at Chimes of Pimlico Restaurant

We Will Rock You on the Alan Titchmarsh Show

We Will Rock You on the Alan Titchmarsh Show

Mamma Mia is one of the longer lasting musicals in the West End and so Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks in London have built up to become  one of the standards alongside Dirty Dancing

It’s something to do with the heady feel good atmosphere generated by just the impression of a greek island holiday even though you are in the middle of the big city. You don;t necessarily have to be a big fan of Abba’s songs either, I know I’m not – but the game of guessing how the plot is weaving along to include yet another classic is almost as much fun as the superb acting and singing. The film of Mamma Mia! was pretty good too, with Maryl Streep proving she can sing for the first time to her usual film audience.

Andaz Liverpool Street for Luxury Theatre Breaks In London Better known by its former name, The Great Eastern Hotel, Andaz Liverpool Street is one of the many 19th-century enormous hotels that tower above London’s mainline railway stations. It is easily the most impressive in the current day. The exterior dates from 1884 but inside it is all very 2009 with added wow factor.  Filled with Turner Prize-worthy sculptures, walls of angled mirrors, retro-minimalist bedrooms, an eye-popping rotunda – it’s a David Lynch film set masquerading as a hotel. There’s no reception desk either – staff come to you with laptops while you relax in the lounge.

Theatre Breaks in London What you get An upgraded King room is 29-sq.-metre. It features a plush king bed, oversized work desk and bath with ecologically friendly shower, fast-fill tub and hot towel rail, air conditioning, and a gorgeous modern design. Enjoy complimentary amenities such as healthy mini-bar, local phone calls, wired and wireless Internet access, iPod dock and the luxury of yukata robes. Hotel and theatre breaks in London You might think this sort of luxury would be horribly expensive and normally you’d be right!To stay one Friday night in June at full price would cost you £270! But book it as a hotel deal as part of a London theatre break and prices start from just £92 per person including your show ticket (one night stay plus tickets for Woman in Black)

Wicked is Spellbinding

Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Wicked Theatre Breaks in London can be planned right up until April 2010 now since the global hit musical has just announced an extension to the WIcked booking period at the Apollo Victoria theatre in the West End.

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