The Heavy Weight Championship: Broadway v West End

Ladies and gentlemen, in the blue corner we have Broadway and in the red corner, the West End. For a theatre break to cure the winter blues who will be victorious? Both challengers come into the fight with strong reputations and each one believes it is the greatest. So for your winter theatre break which will win your vote?

First up, the American challenger: 40 theatres host 1,483 cumulative weeks of shows per year, attended by 12.13 million people and making $1.081 billion.

Broadway is big, bold and brash. A walk down Broadway is a heady experience where you’re bombarded with billboards and bustling noise. Enthusiasm is infectious as crowds gather to queue for tickets in Times Square. One man in the queue in front of me told me, ‘I didn’t have any interest in seeing a show before I got here but there’s such a buzz around, you can’t help but get caught up and it’s great fun.’

Getting tickets is easy. Ticket prices range from $20 to $140 and can be booked on the theatre’s website or on sites like broadway.com, or you can queue at one of the TKTS booths (try Times Square) for reduced price tickets. Available shows are displayed on an electronic board and the best seats in theatres can be snapped up for up to 50% off the original price (service fee, $4). I got a Jersey Boys ticket down from $137 to $68.50. Be prepared to wait; I queued for an hour. Entertainment was at hand though in the form of some of the cast of Chicago so the wait was fun. TKTS opens for evening performances, Mon, Wed – Sun, 3:00 – 20:00, Tues 2:00 – 20:00; for matinee performances, Wed & Sat, 10:00 – 14:00.

Next we have the UK challenger. Up to 48 theatres are open at any one time, not to mention fringe theatres and opera houses. 18,615 shows welcome over 14 million people yearly, making over £528,375,000.

In the West End there’s a calmer but no less confident air of knowing it’s the best. Like its multicultural society there’s an ease here where hallowed Shakespearean plays live beside frothy, fun musicals. All are welcome and all strive for the excellence that gives the West End its reputation for quality. You can tell theatre is a serious business here.

Tickets for plays and musicals range in price from £10 to £50 and can be purchased from each theatre or on sites like officiallondontheatre.co.uk, or, like Broadway, discounted tickets of up to 50% off are on sale at the TKTS booth on Leicester Square. I got Wizard of Oz tickets reduced from £65 to £32.50 (£3 service). TKTS is open Mon-Sat, 10:00 to 19:00 and Sun, 11:00 to 16:00 (there are no night performances on Sun and only a few at 17:00).

There’s no doubt that both challengers bring in some big hitters. Broadway’s boards have been trodden by Matthew Broderick, Ricky Martin, Al Pacino and Scarlett Johansson while the West End lists Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, John Malkovich and Patrick Stewart as its stars.

And there’s some star quality in the attractions of each city too. In New York when you’re not at a show, why not get a carriage ride round Central Park, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, saunter down 5th Avenue and shop at Saks, climb the Statue of Liberty or view Manhattan from the top of the Empire State Building?

To counterpunch London can come right back at New York with its world famous attractions: Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, The National Gallery, Westminster Cathedral and Madame Tussauds.

There’s little doubt that this match will not end in a knockout. These two are always champions. So whichever you choose for your winter theatre break will not let you down.

To book London theatre tickets try http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/
To book New York theatre tickets try http://www.broadway.com/
For flights and hotels book together on http://www.expedia.ie

© Irene Togher