TV shows and the West End – getting the family into the theatre

The impact that television has had on the theatre recently is undeniable. Indeed, many West End shows have seen record box office results due to TV talent shows that help to find the stars.

And while Kevin Spacey may believe that the relationship between TV shows and the West End unfairly promotes musicals over straight theatre, this is not always the case.

David Tennant’s run as Hamlet was hugely successful – and I think a lot of the audience went to see how Doctor Who would cope with the role.

While the TV talent shows may concentrate solely on musicals, they do get families into the theatre – and the initial experience may make them decide to buy tickets for straight plays in the future.