When the Hollywood heavyweights take to the stage, the punters descend – regardless how lofty the prices. This is playing out across the pond in a dramatic fashion as George Clooney’s Broadway debut (co-written and starring the sexagenarian legend), , obliterated the weekly box office record for a play last week, making an astronomical £2,564,918 for just preview performances. This new record trounces – starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal – which had set the record only earlier the same month, and which clocked up £2,191,850 for eight performances (despite opening to mixed reviews).
The average ticket price for Othello was £235 and was £234. This side of the pond, on London’s West End, it’s only March and 2025 has already been a big year for prize-winning Hollywood grandees taking to the West End stage. There was a double-helping of Sophocles Greek Tragedy adorned with Oscar winners in the form of (starring Rami Malek) at the Old Vic, followed by (with Brie Larson) at the Duke of York Theatre – which both opened to a lukewarm reception.
Also this year, there has been heartthrob Jonathan Bailey in at The Bridge and Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston as Beatrice and Benedick in at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Tickets for Shakespeare’s – outstandingly reviewed, a confetti-sprinkled Marvel fever dream – were skimming £300 for the very best seats in the house. But it’s Chekhov’s at The Barbican – starring Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, Emma Cor.
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