Victoria Palace theatre tickets
Posted on 14 May 2011
The Musical |
The Victoria Palace continued its musical theatre tradition and saw many successes, with its first live BBC broadcast in 1939, “Me and My Girl” , where listeners could sing along The Lambeth Walk. Luckily the Victoria Palace Theatre was not damaged during the Second World War, although at the opening in 1911, a gilded statue of ballerina Anna Pavlova had been installed above the cupola of the theatre. This was taken down for its safety during the war and was sadly lost. However, in 2006, a replica of the original statue was restored in its place. One of the longest running musicals at the Victoria Palace Theatre is Black and White Minstrel Show, which was staged all throughout the 1960’s. But one of its main claims to fame comes from a production untitled The Little Foxes, which saw Elizabeth Taylor make her stage debut. Another long running hit was Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story. So successful was Buddy that the show later returned to other West End Theatres, including a long run at the Strand Theatre.
The theatre has been owned by Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen since 1991 and the Victoria Palace Theatre is now staging probably its biggest success to date, Billy Elliot the Musical. Billy Elliot opened in 2005, and has won itself rave reviews and Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical in 2005. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. The story of his personal struggle and fulfillment are balanced against a counter-story of family and community strife caused by the UK miners' strike (1984–1985) in County Durham, in Northern England. Hall's screenplay was inspired in part by A. J. Cronin's novel, The Stars Look Down, to which the musical's opening song pays homage. This success led to productions in Australia, Broadway and elsewhere. The production Billy Elliot the Musical is still going strong at the Victoria Palace Theatre, adding another layer of history. Victoria Palace theatre tickets are available from the theatre box office or from official agents
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