Jumpy star Tamsin Greig was among a collection of London stage performers who shared their enthusiasm for the capital’s acclaimed theatre scene with an invited audience of international journalists yesterday.
Speaking to a packed Matcham Room at the newly re-launched Hippodrome Casino, the Olivier Award-winner, who is soon to be seen at the Duke of York’s theatre in the transfer of Royal Court hit Jumpy, said she continued returning to the West End because: “It’s so vibrant. London theatre has an international reputation and it doesn’t wane, it just keeps getting stronger.”
The Episodes actress was joined at the event, which was staged by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), by former Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis and Doctor Who sidekick Arthur Darvill, who can both be seen in Our Boys at the Duchess theatre later this autumn.
Darvill who, like Greig, was interviewed by SOLT Chief Executive Julian Bird, shared the actress’s excitement, saying: “I love the diversity of stuff there is in the West End. We have the best writers, the best directors and the best actors all coming together. It’s a really exciting place to be.”
The afternoon event was staged by SOLT to promote the quality and variety of London’s theatre scene to journalists drawn to the capital by this summer’s Olympic Games. The gathered reporters were also treated to a showcase of London’s musicals with performances from Billy Elliot The Musical, Wicked, Les Misérables, The Phantom Of The Opera, Mamma Mia! and Blood Brothers.
Representing the Greater London Authority at the event, Munira Mirza, Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture, concluded: “We have some of the most talented theatre people in the world working in London. Theatre’s so important to everything that makes the city great.”