The people standing there were obviously waiting for something or someone. I passed them on my way to Fujikina at the Stables on Earlham Street, just around the corner. Because I was in the Fujikina event and had my Fuji camera with me, I just snapped this as I passed. These people of course are nothing to do with the Fujikina event. So then what?
Part of me wanted to know who they were. With the photo blown up on my screen I can see they work for LW Theatres. So I guess they were waiting for a well-known person or persons.
A bit of research and I see that the company is owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
He owns five theatres outright and co-owns a sixth so he is a significant factor in keeping London theatres going.
Read any news article on the state of the arts in London and you will read how theatres are struggling. No wonder, with theatre tickets at £150 and more.
One of the theatres Andrew Lloyd Webber owns is the London Palladium. The TV programme Sunday night at the London Palladium was hugely popular on the BBC for many years.
Andrew Lloyd Webber is not the only person owning theatres in London.
Cameron Mackintosh owns Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, which owns and operates eight London theatres, including the Prince of Wales Theatre.
The Royal Variety Performance, 1963 was held at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
It was televised and the Beatles were the headline act.
My wife recently bought a book of Beatles quotes, some of which she had read to me. A quote many people of a certain age remember is this one, because a lot of prominent people were at the performance.
For our last number, I’d like to ask your help. Would the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands. And the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewellery.
John Lennon,
There’s something about the way the two men are holding their hands that makes me think that the top-down authority structure is still here sixty years later.
Tech: Fuji X-T50 with 35mm lens, shot at 1/3200th of a second and an aperture of f2.0.
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