Livingstone puts the West End on centre stage

Preview by Jack Foley

SOME of the leading names in West End Theatre joined some of Hollywood's emerging talent for the re-launch of London Mayor, Ken Livingstone's 'Get Into London Theatre' promotion, which seeks to broaden the range of theatre audiences.

With research showing that only about a third of the West End's 12 million-plus visits each year were being made by theatregoers from the London boroughs, it was clear that many more Londoners could be enjoying magical experiences in the Theatre Capital of the World.

The Mayor launched the promotion at the Criterion Theatre at Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday, January 15, 2003, alongside stars including Lord of the Rings star, Sir Ian McKellen (who is appearing in Dance of Death), Alan Davies (Auntie and Me), Michael Greco (Chicago) and Hollywood stars Freddie Prinze Jr and Chris Klein (This Is Our Youth).

Created in partnership with the Society of London Theatre, the 'Get Into London Theatre' promotion, funded via the Mayor's London Development Agency, seeks to encourage thousands of Londoners, especially young people and members of ethnic communities, who never or very rarely attend the theatre, to give it a go - at specially reduced prices.

Mr Livingstone said: "People travel thousands of miles to enjoy our theatre productions. But not all Londoners are making the most of what is on their doorstep, in particular young people.

"I hope that through this discounted ticket promotion, they will discover what an enjoyable and rewarding experience going to the theatre can be."

The promotion offers thousands of tickets to plays, musicals, dance and opera at the specially reduced prices of £10, £15 and £20. There will also be £5 tickets at specific performances for under-25s and over-60s.

A fantastic range of top West End shows are taking part, as well as venues outside the West End, such as the Hackney Empire and the Tricycle in Kilburn.

To make the experience even more memorable, special offers have been arranged at a wide range of restaurants from £10 for two courses, and there are also special deals at Hilton hotels.

Meera Syal, actress and writer of Bombay Dreams and Anita & Me, said: "I hope this will provide more people, who may never have considered theatre as something they might enjoy, with the opportunity to give it a try. Visiting the theatre is such a wonderful experience that I am sure that after their first visit, they will be hooked!"

This was a view endorsed by Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, president of the Society of London Theatre, who said: "We are delighted to be working with the Mayor of London on this imaginative promotion. London has a vibrant theatre industry but we share the Mayor's determination that it be enjoyed by Londoners of all ages and backgrounds.

"This promotion is the most high-profile of a wide range of initiatives by which London theatre is reaching out to the audiences of tomorrow."

Indielondon believes that audiences must not miss out on this fabulous opportunity to 'try some thing new!'. Tickets must be booked by February 28 and are available on a special phone line - 0870 840 2468 (national rates apply) and through www.OfficialLondonTheatre.co.uk, or in person at the British Visitor Centre in Regent Street.

More on the scheme

l Over 70 London shows will offer fantastic reductions at performances from January 15 until March 29. Prices will be only £10, £15 or £20 (depending on the show and availability), with a limited number at the special price of £5 for the under 25's and over 60's.

l Prices vary per participating show. The offer is subject to limited availability (especially at weekends) and cannot be used with any other offer.

l Tickets must be booked by February 28 and are available on a special phone line - 0870 840 2468 (national rates apply), the website address above, or in person at the British Visitor Centre in Regent Street.

l For the same period a wide range of London's restaurants are offering two-course meals for £10 and three courses for £12.50 (incl. VAT but excl. service and drinks).

l Hilton Hotels are offering one and two night stays in four and five star hotels from only £34 per person per night.

l All bookers will also get a voucher for £2.50 off further purchases at the SOLT tkts booth in Leicester Square.

lShows taking part include:
(Please note shows subject to change throughout the promotion. Prices vary per show)
Show Theatre
A Christmas Carol, Greenwich
A Laughing Matter, National
Abigail's Party, New Ambassadors
Anyone Can Whistle, Bridewell - click here for review...
Auntie & Me, Wyndham's - click here for review...
Bejart's Companie, M Peacock
Blood Brothers, Phoenix
Bombay Dreams, Apollo Victoria
Camille Lyric, Hammersmith
Caracalla Dance Theatre Peacock
Chicago, Adelphi
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Palladium
Compania Nacional de danza, Sadler's Wells
Contact, Queen's
Dance of Death, Lyric
Disney's The Lion King, Lyceum
Eastward Ho! (RSC), Gielgud
Edward III (RSC), Gielgud
Eifman Ballet, Sadler's Wells
Falstaff (Royal Opera), Royal Opera House
Fame, Aldwych
Fragile Land, Hampstead
Garth Fagan Dance, Sadler's Wells
Grease, Victoria Palace
Iron, Jerwood
Jamaica the Musical, Hackney Empire
John Gabriel Borkman, Greenwich
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Theatre to be confirmed
King Hedley Tricycle
Les Misérables, Palace
Lyon Opera Ballet, Sadler's Wells
Mamma Mia!, Prince Edward
Midnight's Children, Barbican
My Fair Lady, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
1984, Lyric, Hammersmith
Northern Ballet Theatre Sadler's Wells
Our House, Cambridge
Reduced Shakespeare Company, Criterion - click here for review
Red Demon, Young Vic
Rent, Prince of Wales
Reunion, Greenwich
Rigoletto (ENO), London Coliseum
Romeo & Juliet, Piccadilly
Road Lyric, Hammersmith
Scènes de ballet/Winter Dreams/Sinfonietta (Royal Ballet) Royal
Opera House
She Stoops to Conquer, National Theatre
Sing-a-long-a-Abba, Whitehall
Sleuth, Apollo
Stomp, Vaudeville - click here for review
Stones In His Pockets, Duke of York's
Taboo, The Venue
The Cunning Little Vixen (Royal Opera), Royal Opera House
The Duchess of Malfi, National Theatre
The Island Princess (RSC), Gielgud
The Malcontent (RSC), Gielgud
The Mysteries, Peacock
The Nutcracker, Sadler's Wells
The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty's
The Roman Actor (RSC), Gielgud
The Safari Party, Hampstead
The Sleeping Beauty(Royal Ballet), Royal Opera House
The Tempest, Old Vic
The Winter's Tale, Greenwich
The Woman in Black, Fortune
This is Our Youth, Garrick - click here for latest review
Triple Espresso, Arts
Umoja, New London
We Will Rock You, Dominion
What the Night Is For, Comedy
Withering Looks, Greenwich
Yamato, Peacock
Zipp!, The Musical Duchess

Participating Restaurants:
Bella Pasta
12 locations in Central London
For full details Tel: 08080 727 827

The Blue Door Bistro
15 Montague Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5BJ.
Tel: 020 7612 8412

Butler's Restaurant at the Chesterfield Hotel
35 Charles Street, Mayfair, London W1J 5EB.
Tel: 020 7514 5650

Chez Gérard
(For all Chez Gérard restaurants Tel: 020 7240 9240)
Bertorelli, 44a Floral Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DA
Bertorelli, 11-13 Frith Street, Soho, London W1D 4RB
Bertorelli, 19 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1RL
Chez Gérard, The Opera Terrace, The Market, Covent Garden Piazza,
London
WC2E 8RF
Chez Gérard, 9 Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8YL
Chez Gérard, 8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2LS
Chez Gérard, 31 Dover Street, Mayfair, London W1X 3RA
Chez Gérard, 119 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PP (Closed Saturday)
Chez Gérard, 14 Trinity Square, London EC2M 4AA (Closed Saturday)
Livebait, 21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7DN
Livebait, The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8YL
Livebait's Café Fish, 36/40 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DW

Citronelle at the Lowndes Hotel (pre theatre meals only)
21 Lowndes Street, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 9ES.
Tel: 020 7823 1234

Fish!
County Hall, 3b Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7GP. Tel: 020 7401 6734
Blackheath, 1 Lawn Terrace, London SE3 9LJ. Tel: 020 8852 0700
Click here for a Fish! review...

Hilton Hotel restaurants
Please note, all guests at Hilton hotel restaurants must be seated by
7.30pm

Traders Bistro
Hilton London Docklands - 265 Rotherhithe Street, London, SE16 5HW.
Tel: 0207 231 1001

Steam
Hilton London Paddington -146 Praed Street, Paddington, London, W2 1EE.
Tel: 0207 850 0555

The AM - PM Lounge
Hilton London Kensington - 179 - 199 Holland Park Avenue, London, W11
4UL.
Tel: 0207 603 7850

The Dining Room
Hilton London Hyde Park - Bayswater Road, London, W2 4RJ.
Tel: 0207 221 2217

Sam's Brasserie
Hilton London Islington - 53 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0UY.
Tel: 0207 354 7786

Memories (offer excludes Friday and Saturday)
The Langham Hilton - 1C Portland Place, Regent Street, London, W1B 1JA.
Tel: 0207 973 7544

The Park Brasserie (offer available through January only)
The London Hilton on Park Lane - 22 Park Lane, London, W1K 4BE.
Tel: 0207 208 4022

Planet Hollywood
13 Coventry Street, Piccadilly, London W1V 7FE.
Tel: 020 7287 1000
Please note: you cannot ring ahead and book for Planet Hollywood during half-term. Please queue for spaces on the day.)

Porters English Restaurant
17 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London.
Tel: 020 7836 6466

Zinc Bar & Grill
21 Heddon Street, W1R 7LF.
Tel: 020 7255 8899.

Participating Hotels:
Single night rate
Hotel January -March 2003
The London Hilton on Park Lane (5*) £78.95
The Langham Hilton (5*) £73.95
The Trafalgar Hilton (5*) £69.95
Hilton London Paddington £45.95
Hilton London Docklands £35.95
Hilton London Heathrow Airport £43.95
Hilton London Metropole £40.95
Hilton London Kensington £33.95
Hilton London Olympia £33.95
Hilton London Hyde Park £54.95
Hilton London Green Park £50.95
Hilton London Mews £50.95
Hilton Islington London £43.95
All Prices are in GBP, inclusive of tax and are per person per night

2 nights rate
Hotel Jan Feb March
Hilton London Docklands £119 £129 £129
Hilton London Hyde Park £139 £169 £169
Hilton London Green Park £159 £179 £199
Hilton London Heathrow Airport £159 £159 £159
Hilton London Islington £159 £169 £169
Hilton London Kensington £159 £179 £179
Hilton London Metropole £159 £189 £189
Hilton London Mews £159 £179 £199
Hilton London Olympia £159 £169 £169
Hilton London Paddington £159 £199 £199
The Langham Hilton (5*) £289 £289 £289
The Trafalgar Hilton (5*) £289 £289 £289
The London Hilton on Park Lane (5*) £299 £299 £299

RELATED LINKS: Click here for The Official London Theatre website...