London theatre stars including Daniel Boys, Louise Dearman, Alex Gaumond, Ray Meagher, Ben Richards and the cast of Jersey Boys were among the theatre fans who celebrated the launch of Get Into London Theatre yesterday.
Former Any Dream Will Do contestant and Avenue Q star Boys hosted the event, which was held at the Royal Festival Hall and featured performances from Jersey Boys and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, along with dance workshops from Mamma Mia! and Legally Blonde The Musical, and a West End sing along.
Speaking to Official London Theatre, Dearman, who is currently entertaining audiences as Glinda the Good in long-running musical Wicked, said: “It’s stressful times right now and to be able to sit down and have a bit of escapism is really important. To give people this opportunity for cheaper tickets is really great.”
The annual Get Into London Theatre promotion is proving hugely popular and has already sold more than 43,000 cut price tickets to a host of the West End’s most popular shows. Tickets are still available at just £10, £15, £25 and £35 for productions ranging from Shakespearean comedy As You Like It to 60s jukebox musical Dreamboats And Petticoats or English National Opera’s world premiere of Lucrezia Borgia.
Legally Blonde star Gaumond, who plays leading man Emmett in one of 2010’s biggest successes, tore himself away from the Mamma Mia! dance workshop to tell Official London Theatre: “With discounts like this, it gives people a chance to see more shows or possibly take a gamble on a show they wouldn’t have tried to see; it broadens people’s horizons. Hopefully you get a different kind of audience that might not normally consider the theatre, then they’ll build a love of theatre so you have a growing audience for the future. It’s a great idea and quite important, I think.”
In 2011, Get Into London Theatre is expanding to offer show-themed activities giving theatregoers an even richer theatrical experience. Among the activities still on offer are a Q & A session with the cast of Stomp, an after-show chat with the cast of hit comic thriller The 39 Steps and a playwriting workshop at leading new writing venue the Royal Court.
Tickets can be purchased through Get Into London Theatre for performances until 18 February. To book, or for more information, call 0871 230 1548 or visit www.getintolondontheatre.co.uk
The final word of the successful day went to host Boys, who commented: “We are so lucky in this country to have a city that offers such a wide range and diverse amount of theatre ranging from plays to musicals, opera to ballet and what better way to see a London show than by getting a discount on a ticket price? This unique event offers the chance to see a world class London theatre production at a fraction of the price. You’d be mad not to take up this offer and get into a London theatre now!”
MA