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Three Books About the West End You Should Read
by Mike Shaw
With West End cast recordings and DVDs you can be pretty certain of what you're getting; your favourite performers singing your favourite songs, simple. The books, however, are quite another matter.
Shops are stuffed to the gills with a plethora of terribly-written books about theatre. Filled with clichés about the lure of the limelight and the apparently heady aroma of greasepaint, they don't come close to the thrill of real live theatre. Avoid the stinkers and try something from these top three unmissable West End pageturners.
Stage Mum - Lisa GeeWith shows like Lion King, Billy Elliot, Oliver! and Thriller dominating the London theatre scene, there are a fair few child stars treading the boards. Lisa Gee's utterly compelling Stage Mum examines the oft-overlooked family lives of theatre kids.
Lisa Gee's daughter, Dora, played the youngest Von Trapp child (Gretl) in the most recent West End production of The Sound of Music. With publicity cranked up to 11 thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? reality casting show, all eyes were on the production. Little Dora - a child who fell into theatre rather than actively pursuing it - was swept up in the media storm.
Gee chronicles every detail of West End life with a refreshing honesty. She even shares her battle with her inner pushy parent and an utterly cringe-worthy moment with a well-known star (I shan't spoil the surprise). The negative side of having a child in the spotlight is also explored, once again with the striking honesty that makes Stage Mum a must read for all fans of London theatre.
Anything Goes - John BarrowmanThere are very few theatregoers who don't have a soft spot for the utterly charming Mr Barrowman. His recent turn in La Cage Aux Folles was a resounding success, and his previous stage and screen appearances as well as his current role in Torchwood have gathered him perhaps the largest legion of fans in all of Theatreland.
It's no surprise that Barrowman has led a rich and varied existence and this autobiography offers the reader a rare insight into that incredible life (so far). The narrative flicks back and forth in time, somehow conveying Barrowman's trademark wackiness. His Scottish/American upbringing, fun-loving family, and the evolution of his remarkably successful career are all discussed frankly.
Barrowman's sexuality takes a back seat. He describes coming out as "no big deal", saying although he officially came out to his family aged 24, they'd always known. Perhaps the most touching parts of the book come when Barrowman discusses his partner, Scott Gill. It's all love at first sight, soulmate sort of stuff, better than any paperback romance novel.
A compulsive page-turner, Anything Goes will not fail to delight any Barrowman fan.
Haunted West End Theatres - Ian John Shillito & Becky WalshFair enough, this one's trashy; utterly and unashamedly trashy. However, once in a while all one needs is something mindless to thumb through on the train or on a rainy afternoon. For West End theatre fans, this book offers something a little different to the usual fare.
There's no doubt that theatres can be spooky places and there is a certain link between the stage and the ghosts. Written in an accessible, light-hearted style, there's no need to take anything written too seriously. However, after reading Haunted West End theatres, the next London theatre ticket you buy will not only allow you to see a great show, but maybe a theatre ghost as well. You'll certainly be looking in the wings a little more keenly than usual.
About the Author
Show and Stay offers the best London show and hotel packages. Book your theatre break in London with us and choose from more than fifty London theatre breaks.Customers can visit the Show and Stay website for more information.
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