There is a region of London that is sometimes referred to as “Theatreland”, found in the West End of the nation’s capital, it enjoys the biggest level of commercial theatres and productions in the entire English speaking world. West End theatres are collectively world renowned for putting on a huge range of extremely popular shows to millions of local and visiting people every year. There is a strong relationship between the West End stages and the international silver screen; with many well known film actors having starting their careers on the theatre stages of London, and many already established film actors also choosing to work in the theatre at some time.
Seeing a West End production is on the to-do-list of many tourists to London, and the visiting tourism market certainly helps to spread the word and make the West End theatre district so well known on a global scale. The area of the West End is generally defined by The Strand to the south, Regent Street to the west, Kingsway to the east, and Oxford Street to the north. This definition is by no means exact however, with many smaller shows seen on side streets out of the main area, and the South Bank Complex also putting on some very popular productions. The only other theatre district in the world that can compare to the West End of London is Broadway in New York City, both in terms of attendance numbers or overall influence.
Some of the well known film stars who have performed in West End shows include Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Kevin Spacey, Rob Lowe, David Schwimmer, and Val Kilmer. From a production point of view, having an international film star in a show is a great way to ensure success. However, there has been some recent controversy about the numbers of international film stars taking leading roles off aspiring young theatre actors. For many young actors, finding a spot on the West End stage can at times seem impossible, and many aspiring actors need to start out in much more intimate and smaller surroundings. There are a number of smaller amateur and niche theatres operating in London and all around the world that perform in small theatre buildings and under outdoor garden lights in parks and gardens.
Most actors need to start out performing at these kinds of smaller shows, and if they are good enough, hope to be noticed and make their way on to the big stages of the West End. While it may not seem as glamorous performing under solar collectors (Solarkollektoren Shop) that power a solar light setup, small outdoor stages during the summer months can offer a good platform to many aspiring actors. The West End is an amazing and inspiring place for actors and audiences alike, and seems to only be getting more popular and recognised throughout the world every year.