West End

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional shows staged in the large theatres of London’s theatreland. The main streets of theatreland include Drury Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, and The Strand.

Along with New York’s Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London.

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at St Martin’s Theatre is the longest running show in the world, and has been showing in the West End since 1952. The longest running musical in West End history is Les Misérables at Queen’s Theatre which opened in 1985.

Chris Clarke, 29, is head of lighting on Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre. He says: "My job on Billy Elliot involves looking after the lighting rig and ensuring that the show looks as good now as it did two years ago when the designers left it.

“This means fixing all of the broken lights, making sure the lamps are all kicking out as much intensity as possible and generally ensuring everything is good for the show at 7.30pm”.

Some West End links

• The Society of London Theatre Guide
• London Theatre Guide
• This is Theatre
• Billy Elliot The Musical at Victoria Palace Theatre
• The Mousetrap at St Martin’s Theatre
• Michael Billington in the Guardian on West End theatre
• London Assembly wants to hear your views on West End funding