Much is said about the London and the way in which audiences from around the world regularly flock to witness the best shows in town. But does this stay the same all the time? How are Theatre Tickets affected by current events and can they ever lead to massive drops in sales?

The truth is a lot of people ask the same question and this is why the West End makes the news when issues like the recent economic downturn take hold, with many wondering if audiences wanted to part with their cash to see a play or musical. In this case the West End benefitted and once again shows like Phantom of the Opera saw an influx with visitors as audiences members sought to forget about the dreary world outside.

The same questions were asked about the Royal Wedding in 2011 and the West End even reflected the climate by launching “Betty Blue Eyes” at the Novello Theatre, which was set during the wedding between then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947.

But at the moment there’s a lot of talk concerning the West End and next year’s London Olympics – not to mention the Queen’s jubilee – and there are fears that there will be a large drop in visitor numbers during the period in which the games take place. This is due to tourists arriving specifically to witness the sporting events rather than visit regular tourist attractions like West End theatres.