So often people reason that they choose to attend the West End spectacular musicals because they want something fun and silly which, after a long week at work, they can carried away with without the needing to think question and analyse it. Balderdash.
There seems to be a common misonception that any piece of theatre or performance that is not full of inane celebrities hot-fotting their way off the latest 'talent' show has some sort of deeper, complex level of understanding that would be confusing for the simple everyday Joe on the street. Scared that they will look stupid seated in the stalls starring dumbfoundedly up at the stage, people choose to go with what they know, what they are familiar with and what they recognise whether its a well loved film performed live on stage, a Heat cover star dolled up to the nines or the toothy bint they'd been following on BBC1 for the last month of Saturdays. This explains last years increase in the West End, not a sudden appreciation for the art form but the producers willingness to make the process of attending a performance as easy and gentle as possible. The words 'spoon', 'feeding' and 'baby' spring to mind.
But the problem is, not all 'serious' theatre has some deep concept that you need a PhD to understand. Last week saw the Barbican present 'L'Ecume de L'Air' as part of the London International Mime Festival. While the French title may scare some away, those who watched saw a performance of a man juggling. That is all. No deep ideological concerns here, just old fashioned fun and amazement at what a man can do with balls in his hands. So if people are going to the theatre for simple entertainment, what is stopping them from coming to shows like these?
What is a solution for the future? Open your eyes and be brave. Unlike those ridiculous people on 'Freaky Eaters' who cry at the mere sight of a carrot, try something new, do something different. What is the worse that could happen? If you don't like it, so what. You don't have to like it. If you don't understand it, you don't understand it. It makes no difference. And with ticket prices being around three times cheaper than those on Drury Lane, its hardly even a gamble.
