did London theatre close due to the olympics?

[winston89]

There were rumours of London theatres shutting its doors due to the olympics. However, now that they are underway, I have not heard of any show taking a break (or not taking a break for that matter.) Is this something that has in fact happened, or was it just talk?

[Mark_E]

Sweeney is

[ClapYo'Hands]

Yes, Sweeney closed for two weeks and also so all of the cast could take their holiday at the same time (much like Priscilla used to do). It should be quite fresh when I see it two days after they reopen!

[philitalia]

Any news about the impact on ticketsales ?

[Paterson]

There was a feature on tv saying ticket sales were down, but they didn't quote any actual figures and seemed to be basing it on the fact that you could buy some theatre tickets for half price!

I do think that the predictions of a gridlocked city, with no-one interested in anything other than sport, has become something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. So far traffic has been fine, but there was an expectation it would be terrible, so people have stayed away.

I know I deliberately planned my trip to London so I'd be ahead of the games, and I have friends and relatives who have taken their holidays now -in the assumption that they couldn't move for tourists.

There may be the added slight complication that a lot of arty folks head to Edinburgh during August.

I did think the announcement of Sweeney closing during the Olympics was a bit of a marketing ploy. It's a show with two big name stars with their names above the title, so it makes sense just to close the show and let everyone take a holiday at the same time.

[devonian.t]

But Edinburgh is also very quiet.

[jaqs]

I was at 2 shows yesterday and the upper circle was shut for both, the stalls pretty much full.
Given the sporting action its not surprising but still not good to see on a sat in the summer holidays.

In town on tuesday it was pretty quiet, my flatmate who works high st ken says its quieter in the shop than winter.
Think there will be more casualties than just shows from the olympics.

But I'm hopeful businesses hang on as the nightly advert for london on tv at the moment is pretty terrific.

[ClapYo'Hands]

I also saw two shows yesterday - The Wizard of Oz was probably just over 3/4 full (which I expected with or without the Olympics anyway) and Singin' In The Rain had a full house (which I'm very happy about) and received one of the best standing ovations I've ever experienced.

[theatrepaul]

Shakespeares Globe was packed to the rafters earlier today so no obvious impact on them

[Wishing Only Wounds]

As per Sierra Boggess' twitter, Les Mis went dark the night of the opening ceremonies.

[Princeton Returns]

Lloyd Webber wrong over Olympics theatre 'bloodbath'

Andrew Lloyd Webber Lord Lloyd-Webber considered closing the Wizard of Oz during the Olympics

Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he was wrong to predict a "bloodbath" for London theatre during the Olympics.

His statement came as new figures showed takings at his theatres had risen by 25% since the Games began.

Last December, Lord Lloyd-Webber told Radio 4's Today programme: "Nobody's going to go to the theatre at all".

Now the composer has admitted to The Telegraph newspaper: "I have been proved wrong and I couldn't be more delighted about that".

West End figures published on Monday showed box office takings for the first seven days of the London 2012 Games were up £250,000 on the previous week.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Lord Lloyd-Webber added that Monday night's takings for Shrek and Phantom of the Opera, both playing at his theatres, were "hugely up".

"Shrek was really flying last night," he said. "Certainly everything is already 25% up on the Monday on where it was even last week, which is very good."

He continued: "We did really think we were going to have a moment where it was really very difficult."

Last year, Lord Lloyd-Webber warned "most of the theatres in London will shut" during the Games, and even considered closing The Wizard of Oz for the duration.

"I just thought 'oh my God, it's just not going to happen', because there was just nothing in advance you see," he said of ticket sales for the musical at the London Palladium.
British crowds

Other theatres in his Really Useful Group are currently hosting Matilda the Musical and War Horse.

Sweeney Todd, which is playing at the Adelphi, has been put on hold, although Lord Lloyd-Webber revealed he had just been told that its producers were "sorry" they did not run the show through the Olympics.

However, he indicated that theatre audiences were not drawn from the usual overseas summer visitors - with most patrons coming from the UK instead.

"They do appear to be mainly British," he told the BBC. "A lot of people are coming to London and saying 'let's take in a show too', which is great.

"Feedback from audiences is incredibly positive, so it's just a question of trying to persuade everyone to go and celebrate the West End for the last few days. I'm afraid in one or two cases we haven't got any tickets to sell."

Lord Lloyd-Webber has also taken to Twitter to urge visitors to extend their theatre trips to help West End restaurants that are "struggling" during the Olympics.

He wrote: "Go to the Games, go to the West End, enjoy a show, have a meal. There'll never be a more joyous time to celebrate what London has to offer."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19162268