Phenomenal Success for Hairspray in West End

One of the more recent imports to the West End from across the pond has a firm, long-lasting hold on the British public that most certainly will not brush out. Hairspray has taken the West End by storm, receiving 11 Olivier award nominations and reporting 13.6 million box-office admissions in 2007. The phenomenal popularity of the glittering Broadway crossover has allowed it to recoup its initial investment of £3.5million in a record breaking 29 weeks, that works out as the show earning just under £720 an hour 24/7 during its first 7 months!

Hairspray effortlessly combines a refreshing, light-hearted style with the presentation of some very serious issues including racial segregation and self expression. The blend of disarmingly likeable characters and issues the audience can easily empathise with creates a truly unique performance which puts across a strong message and entertains the young, the old and everyone inbetween without being in the least bit overpowering.

Hairspray has most certainly bucked the trend of financial losses and early closures in the West End and it shows no sign of slowing down, it seems likely that it is set to join the pantheon of mega-musicals such as Mamma Mia!, Wicked and Les Misérables, we at Show and Stay wish it luck.