Incredibly sad news. Dress Circle is the ONLY shop in London where people can buy the majority of musical theatre CDs. HMV do sell a handful of MT albums but I rarely see anything there I want to buy - basically their MT selection is a case of "blink and you'll miss it". Also Dress Circle was the ONLY shop in the UK to sell and actively promote independent and new musical theatre writing and artists and host in-store live performances.
Basically it's become a victim of online purchasing. But there are still a huge number of people who do not want to or are unable to buy online. A black day for musical theatre.
I really wish they'd turn into more of a social place - with a cafe downstairs, a piano and focus more on the live event market - and still sell sheet music, CDs, books, scripts etc.
Exactly, Nick. I wonder if there's some restriction on that space being used as a Cafe (can't think why there would be). So many people spend browsing time in there, but buy very little. A coffee and a cake would be a virtual 'entrance fee' of around £4.50 - and no extra spend because you'd just go there rather than Starbucks et al (plus you'd go with a friend - if they can stand showtunes!). Really wish they'd tried this. Perhaps someone with a cafe who is looking to be more distinctive might invite the Dress Circle 'brand' to bring some stock and their 'live event' showcases. Just seems a shame as that was a great premises. I guess the economics just didn't stack up, whatever schemes they devised.
And with a café they could have a piano downstairs (they could try and have one donated) and have daytime performances from different people involved with theatre. Not only would this attract more custom on certain days, but the performers could see it as a chance to perform for free in front of an audience, whether it be West End ensemble members or stage school students trying out the latest audition stuff - the next Michael Ball could be found! And if they perform for free, it wouldn't cost Dress Circle anything with money going over the counter. They could still keep their Aladdin's Cave section and display these to sell - posters on the walls, mugs in a cabinet etc.
It is with regret that we announce that on 15th August 2012 the Dress Circle shop in Covent Garden, London will be closing its doors for the very last time.
Over the past months we have tried in vain to negotiate with our landlord to move our shop into smaller and more cost effective premises. The cost of keeping Dress Circle open in the current location is too high, and it has become apparent that we will not be able to dispose of our current lease. The downturn in the economy has also taken its toll on us, as well as the ever changing way that people are buying music. With CD’s becoming relics and downloads being more popular, Dress Circle, the shop, has struggled to keep up for a long time and we have reached the point that we are no longer able to continue.
We were hoping that the 2012 Olympics might bring in some much needed tourism to the Theatre world and bring some customers through our doors, but Monmouth Street is even quieter than usual and so it seems are the rest of the shops in London. It seems that all of the press coverage about the difficulties of travelling during the Olympics has scared many away from visiting the West End.
The public want us to survive, after all how else did we manage to sell out over 1000 seats for the Dress Circle Benefit Gala last August at Her Majesty’s Theatre (we would like to thank the Really Useful Group for donating the use of the Theatre). This event came about because the industry, the stars and our customers care about us, and wanted to help us to survive. The Gala was a fantastic evening, with stunning performances from all of those involved and we are eternally grateful for all of the effort that was put in by everyone to create this magnificent event. The Gala and the publicity surrounding it provided us with a significant though short lived increase in sales. Unfortunately the Gala provided us with little direct financial benefit and the increase in sales was not sustainable through the recession.
The Dress Circle website will continue to trade and supply the very best of Musical Theatre all over the world, as it has always done. We have plans currently underway to improve the website and we hope to be bigger, better and more musical than ever before.
We hope that all of our regular customers and new ones will continue to support us as they have done in the past. Dress Circle will continue online and remain an important part of the Theatre community. We hope to somehow, somewhere, continue with our signings and look forward to meeting our loyal customers once again. For more information please visit www.dresscircle.com.
With thanks to everyone that has supported Dress Circle over the years
From,
Michael, Richard, John, Andrew, Aggie, Chris, Helen, Mark and Murray.
Sad. But it sounds like there's now a niche opportunity for a daytime/early-evening theatrical hangout Cafe somewhere in London, to keep the 'showcase' scene going. Needs the right combo of people to get it going.
This is indeed very sad news! Yes, the shop will continue to trade online but there is nothing like going into the shop in person and browsing through its selection of CDs and other merchandise. There are many times I have brought CDs from there on impulse because they have either been played in the shop and I have liked what I have heard or they have been recommended to me by a member of staff. There is also the joy of discovering a particular CD or show that you are not familiar with when browsing through its stands. Not to mention the various CD signings, in-store events and theatre evenings that they do. You do not get any of this with an online store! Where are we ever going to get anything like this again? I am devastated!
Very sad news. I've used Dress Circle to buy theatre memorabilia and more a good deal over the years.
I used to get all my theatre posters there and lots of them. Sadly now, the range available is minimal and I can only get everything from ebay. Therein lies one of the problems for Dress Circle. The advent of the internet has made life difficult, along with reduced footfall and higher rents.
Its a great shame because I think the West End still has room for a theatre based shop. I hope that there can be a way to find a new home from Dress Circle beyond its online presence.
Dress Circle was always an integral part of any trip to London for me. Sadly I'm not back in London before it closes (miss it by 3 days) so won't get a last chance to visit.
All we have left now on the high street is HMV and we know how it's been struggling. Obviously it could never compare with Dress Circle.
I was the perfect shop to browse in but not to spend money in, one CD in there would be three off Ebay/Amazon, although they're theatre memorabilia was unrivaled.
Yes CD's are cheaper online, but doesn't justify a good reason for Dress Circle upcoming demise. This could be likened to a death of someone in the theatre community, never news that is welcome.
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Posted: 7/31/12 at 05:26am