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Musicals are a Marmite thing: you either absolutely love them — or absolutely loathe them. If you fall into the latter group, then you probably havent been paying too much attention to whats on in London theatre lately. Musicals continue to flourish on the West End; in fact, according to the Society of London Theatre, almost two out of every three (61 per cent) of theatre tickets sold in 2009 were for musicals. In fact, sales are up 8 per cent overall year on year despite the credit crunch. If youre dead set against taking in a stage musical, you might want to reconsider and make a point of stopping in soon.

A Little Bit Of Something For Everyone

Many people base their dislike based on a single bad experience. Assuming that all stage musicals are the same isnt fair, though. There are some on the West End right now that are lighthearted and highly emotional, but there are also great examples of irreverent humour and hilarious, edgy plot lines in musicals like Avenue Q. From intrigue to drama to suspense, there is a musical out there for everyone — you just have to be willing to look for it.

Favourite Movies Remade As Musicals

A great way to reintroduce yourself to a London theatre musical would be to take in one of the ever-popular productions based on popular hit movies. Chances are, at least one of the examples currently on is based on a film that you enjoyed. Are cartoons your thing? Go see The Lion King. Were you a teenage girl when Dirty Dancing premiered during the late 1980s? Go relive the magic live on stage. Did you grow up watching Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, et al on Sesame Street or The Muppet Show? Youre sure to delight in the edgy humour offered up by Avenue Q. The point is, you really shouldnt dismiss the entire genre based on a single experience — get out there and book some theatre tickets to a musical today.

Take In A Musical – It Just Might Surprise You!

Year after year, famous musicals watch their box office sales grow and grow; new musical converts are created every single day as the breadth and scope of todays productions evolves and tackles new ideas and themes. Rather than strictly sticking to “feel good” ideas and viewing the world through those rose-coloured glasses, todays musicals surprise and engage their audiences like never before. Classics like The Phantom Of The Opera continue to win hearts years after their curtain first rose, while cutting edge shows like Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert clearly demonstrate that musicals dont have to fit into a certain prescribed form. Head over to London and experience musicals like you never have before – they just might surprise you!

Eoin — known to almost everyone except his mum as Ian — has written for many publications in his native south Wales and further afield. He currently lives in Londons trendy Docklands with his partner and enjoys travelling for business and pleasure.

Bringing movies to the stage is a phenomenon that only seems to be growing in popularity in recent years. If youre going to be in London unexpectedly and need to snatch up some last minute theatre tickets, movies that have been translated for the stage are great options.

In fact, some movies are actually better suited for the stage; while they had rather lackluster receptions as movies on the big screen, they can enjoy a reincarnation of sorts as a popular West End production. Here are four great examples…

The Lion King

First it was a tremendously popular animated film by Disney, but its range of appeal was mostly limited to children. Now, people are booking Lion King tickets at the Lyceum Theatre in record numbers. Indeed, the film that charmed the preteen set has been transformed into a legitimate and very successful London musical. And why not? The story and colourful costumes lend themselves quite well to the stage.

Les Miserables

First came the novel by Victor Hugo; then came the many different theatre runs around the world. All the while, multiple people tried bringing Les Miserables to the big screen – with mostly dismal results. If ever a film was meant for the stage, then Les Mis is it. Its been gracing the London theatre scene for more than 20 years; scads of people have purchased last minute theatre tickets for it. Yet a truly popular, well executed film version has never been accomplished.

Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! was recently produced as a relatively well received Hollywood film. Despite the excellent cast and well done screenplay, however, Mamma Mia! is meant for the stage. The experience of being surrounded by other theatre goers as exhilarating number after exhilarating number is performed simply cant be replicated by a big screen version. Although the movie is well worth seeing, its simply no match for what experiencing this musical on stage is like.

Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert

For a story set in the Australian Outback, its only fitting that the seemingly limitless boundaries of the stage suit it better than a television screen – or even a movie screen. Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert has been enjoying greater popularity on the stage than it ever did as a film. Last-minute theatre ticket sales for this musical have been giving Lion King tickets a run for their money, too. Two former movies competing at the theatre box office: who could have predicted that?

Eoin — known to almost everyone except his mum as Ian — has written for many publications in his native south Wales and further afield. He currently lives in Londons trendy Docklands with his partner

The 1980s were an absolutely great decade for the box office. There were so many hits, and so many great cult films, and youve probably heard about many of them. Anyway, with a younger generation growing up, its occurred to me that many of these great films havent been seen by people under the age of 23, and many of them should definitely be seen. There are some classic movies that paved the way for so many of todays great movies. Anyway, here are 5 that Ive always loved.

5. Adventures in Babysitting. This was a great movie with Christina Appelgate and some other big names, and seriously took you on an adventure through the streets of Chicago.

4. Major League. A hysterical comedy about baseball that spawned two sequels after it.

3. The Breakfast Club. Youve probably heard all about this if you havent seen it. If you havent seen it, you absolutely must. A true classic.

2. Ferris Buellers Day Off. The legendary movie about the teenage boy who skipped an entire day of school to enjoy himself in Chicago with his girlfriend and best friend. Youve probably seen this, but just in case, put this right at the top of your list.

1. Die Hard. This is a wonderful action flick that enjoyed a sequel as recently as two years ago. Bruce Willis was at his best in this movie, and youll be very impressed with the loads of action this movie packs in less than two hours.

Pam Donaldson collects diamond drop earrings in her dreams, but hopes to get some other drop earrings while shes dreaming.