Show Business - London theatre continues to defy the effects of the recession, reporting overall results for 2010 that saw record box office revenues and a minimal (0.79%) drop in attendance. Society of London Theatre president Nica Burns said that she was delighted with the results, which she claims represent an ongoing "golden period" for London theatre.
The box office gross of £512 million, up 1.46% on 2009, means 2010 was the seventh year in a row that Theatreland revenues have reached all-time best figures. Although attendance was down to 14,152,230 from 2009's peak of 14,257,922, it was still comfortably above pre-2009 levels - in 2008, attendance numbered 13,892,460.
Burns told The Stage, "This isn't instant success. It's the pay-off from years of investment in new writing, and investment in all the training schemes we now have for directors and producers. The industry has - off its own back - gone out and invested in future talent. This golden period we are having is a result of that sheer hard graft."
Eurovision Surprise - Pop group Blue will represent the UK in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, it has been announced. The group, best known for hits such as One Love and All Rise, will sing their new single I Can for the competition in Dusseldorf, Germany.
In 2009, Blue reunited for a series of gigs, four years after disbanding. Band member Simon Webbe said, "I've always wanted to represent my country, so this is a truly exciting experience for Blue." The group formed in 2000 and since then have sold more than 13m records, won two Brit Awards and had three number one singles. Duncan James said the band are celebrating their 10th year together and thought participating in the annual contest seemed "a great way to mark the occasion".
(Jim Evans)
