2009 breaks box office records for takings and attendance

The Society of London Theatre (Solt) has reported that 2009 was a record year for both box office takings and attendance.

The number of visitors to London’s West End theatres in 2009 passed the 14 million mark for the first time, hitting 14,257,922 — up 5.5% — and box office revenues surpassed the half billion barrier for the first time with a revenue of £504,765,690 — up 7.6%. continue reading »

Rachel Weisz has been named best actress at this year’s Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards for her performance in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Mark Rylance was named best actor for Jerusalem and Jude Law the best Shakespearean performance prize for playing the title role in Hamlet.

Spring Awakening, which ran for a short time in the West End last year, picked up the best musical accolade.

This year’s awards were handed out at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

Read the BBC’s full report.