London theatres thriving, despite recession

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London's West End theatres enjoyed a record year in 2009, shaking off the recession and earning more than 500 million pounds (USD 800 million) for the first time, figures showed on Wednesday.

Attendances reached 14.3 million last year, a rise of 5.5% on 2008, and overall box office revenue for central London's theatreland was 505 million pounds, a 7.6% increase.

Musicals continued to dominate, accounting for 329 million pounds, although attendances of 8.7 million declined by two% year-on-year.

Attendances at plays, boosted by award-winning turns from Hollywood stars Jude Law and Rachel Weisz, jumped 26% to 3.6 million tickets.

Other theatrical entertainment, including opera and dance, rose 7% to 2.0 million.

"2009 was the seventh consecutive year that new attendance and revenue records have been set, but the size of the increases, achieved against a backdrop of economic recession, represent a stunning performance by the sector," said the Society of London Theatre.

The figures were compiled from 52 major theatres in central London.