Tuesday, May 06, 2025
66.0°F

Theater vs. sport

Jill Lawless | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years AGO
by Jill Lawless
| April 22, 2012 9:15 PM

photo

<p>A woman struggles with an umbrella as the heavy rain falls outside the Olympic Stadium, in London Wednesday April 18, 2012. Wednesday marks 100 days before the London 2012 Olympic Games begin. (AP Photo/Anthony Devlin/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT</p>

LONDON - London's theater industry is increasingly confident that culture won't suffer during a summer devoted to celebrating sports.

West End producers had been apprehensive that the 2012 London Olympics could deter people from traveling to London or visiting its central entertainment district at the height of the summer tourist season.

Composer and impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber had earlier even predicted a "bloodbath," saying that several shows could likely shut down during the July 27-Aug. 12 Olympics.

That's not the feeling now.

"There's a fear factor - you don't know what it's going to be like," West End producer Nica Burns said Wednesday. "None of us in London theater have experienced London during the Olympics. Neither have the people who run the transport system or the city as a whole."

But Burns said the theater community had forcefully argued its case to Olympic organizers and London authorities, who have pressed to inform tourists of all the non-sporting delights that Britain's capital has to offer.

"The theater will always fight to keep its corner, and that's exactly what we did," she said.

Olympic organizers marked the 100-day countdown Wednesday with a West End pep rally in Trafalgar Square, where dozens of theater performers danced energetically in a typically London blend of sunshine and drizzle.

"It's gong to be a summer that we'll remember for the rest of our lives," said stage and movie director Stephen Daldry, who is executive producer of the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. "We're here to celebrate the sport, we're here to celebrate the culture - and to celebrate London. It's a great stage and it's going to be all around us."

With Britain's economy still sluggish after a recession, businesses in London are anxious about the effect of the games - hopeful but uncertain of an Olympic tourism boost.

The city's West End theaters have defied the economic gloom and seen box office takings rise for several years running. Last year the 52 main venues took in $845 million.

Burns said the biggest remaining unknown is how well London's public transport system will hold up under the onslaught of Olympic visitors.

"If the transport doesn't work, can I recommend very strongly walking?" she said. "All the theaters are very close to each other."

Actor Deka Walmsley, who plays the title character's coal miner father in the London production of "Billy Elliot," was among the performers encouraging visitors to take in a show during the games.

MORE ENTERTAINMENT STORIES

Live from London
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 12 years, 10 months ago
London set to wow us
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 12 years, 9 months ago
Olympics satire: Watch out for the brand police
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 12 years, 9 months ago

ARTICLES BY JILL LAWLESS

September 9, 2021 12:03 a.m.

UK leader Johnson gambles on tax hike to pay for elder care

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday how he plans to keep a key election promise to grapple with the rocketing cost of long-term care for Britain’s growing older population. To do it, he broke another election vow: not to raise taxes.

September 8, 2021 12:03 a.m.

UK leader Johnson gambles on tax hike to pay for elder care

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday how he plans to keep a key election promise to grapple with the rocketing cost of long-term care for Britain’s growing older population. To do it, he broke another election vow: not to raise taxes.

September 7, 2021 9:36 a.m.

UK leader Johnson gambles on tax hike to pay for elder care

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday how he plans to keep a key election promise to grapple with the rocketing cost of long-term care for Britain’s growing older population. To do it, he broke another election vow: not to raise taxes.