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Theatre: the West End, The Mousetrap and pantomime

Most towns and cities in Britain have a theatre, from big playhouses to tiny studios. Theatres are an important part of local life, with shows by both professional and amateur companies. London's West End, also called "Theatreland", is especially famous. Dame Agatha Christie's murder mystery The Mousetrap has been on stage in the West End since 1952. No other show in history has had such a long first run.

At the end of every performance, the actors ask the audience to keep the murderer's identity a secret. In 1974 the play moved from the Ambassadors Theatre to St Martin's Theatre next door; because there was no break, it still counted as the same run.

Musicals: from Gilbert and Sullivan to Lloyd Webber

Britain has a strong tradition of musical theatre. In the 19th century, Gilbert and Sullivan wrote many comic operas that poked fun at the popular culture and politics of their day. Examples are HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. Professional and amateur groups still put them on today. Most of them opened at the Savoy Theatre in London, which in 1881 became the first public building in the world to be lit entirely by electric light.

A more recent name is the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose musicals have been hits around the world. With the lyricist (song-word writer) Tim Rice he wrote Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, and his other shows include Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

Pantomime and the Edinburgh Fringe

One very British tradition is pantomime. At Christmas many theatres put on a "panto": a light-hearted comedy with songs, based on a fairy tale and meant for the whole family. One traditional character is the Dame, an old woman played by a man. There is often a pantomime horse or cow too, played by two actors sharing one costume. The audience is expected to join in loudly: when the villain creeps up behind the hero, everyone shouts "He's behind you!"

Every summer the Scottish capital hosts the Edinburgh Festival, which is really a group of arts and culture festivals. The largest and best known is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, or simply "the Fringe". It is mostly theatre and comedy, and many of the shows are experimental. For the history of British comedy and TV comedy, see Leisure and Places of Interest.

The Fringe began without an invitation. When the Edinburgh International Festival was first held in 1947, eight theatre groups who hadn't been invited came anyway and performed on the "fringe", or edge, of the festival. That is also where the term "fringe theatre" (small, experimental theatre) comes from.

The top theatre prizes are the Laurence Olivier Awards, given every year in London, with categories such as best director, best actor and best actress. The awards take their name from Sir Laurence Olivier (later Lord Olivier), a British actor remembered above all for his many Shakespeare roles.

Chapter contents: Arts and Culture