As the stakes grow higher and higher in the extremely competitive field of musicals during the economic downturn, producers are taking their cue from the heavyweights on Broadway, and today their work in nearly indistinguishable. It used to be that you could tell a clear difference in both the cost and production values of New York Theatre and London theatre, but today that is no longer the case. As more people scrutinize their budgets, it is only the best of the best that remain in production, and London’s West End is jam packed with some of the best productions the stage has ever seen. Currently playing in various theatres there, are such shows as Mama Mia, Billy Elliot, Wicked, We Will Rock you, Bea, Bagpuss, Legally Blonde, Grease, Blood Brothers, Dirty Dancing, Les Miserables, Thriller Live, Becky Shaw, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Rivals, Birdsong, The Woman in black, Romeo and Juliet, Lucrezia Borgia, and Shoes. And the best part is, that it’s not even a complete list. Its obvious that the draw of the theatre is as strong as ever, and that these British versions are every bit as strong as the ones found on Broadway, as evidenced by the length of some of the runs. For instance Les Mis is the longest running show of all time in Britain, and shows no signs of slowing down. For fans of the Theatre, regardless of the genre, it’s clear that a short stay in London would not be enough, so it’s imperative to schedule a longer stay. For those that find vacation rentals London will draw the curtains just for you. If you find a holiday apartment London can also be a bit more affordable since many of them are located near the city centers where the best theatre can be found.