Snoop's Theatre Thoughts

Steph Fearon signs CDs at Dress Circle

This post is more of a vent than anything else.  I saw the news on Twitter this morning about one of my favorite shops in London being in trouble, and so even though I don’t think my blog gets enough readers for this to make much of a difference, I had to write something about it.  In  a nutshell, Dress Circle is a wonderful theatre shop that may have to close if they don’t find some investors within the next few weeks. Here’s the story from The Stage, a London theatre newspaper and website:

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/32129/exclusive-west-end-showbiz-shop-fights-to

Dress Circle is a musical theatre book/music shop in the heart of London’s theatre district, the West End.  It is a very small two-level space with a cozy atmosphere, and practically every square inch of wall space that is not occupied by merchandise shelves is covered with theatre posters and paraphernalia.  You don’t even have to talk to anyone to feel the theatre-aficionado vibe that oozes out of every nook and cranny of this place.  It is so much fun to browse the many shelves of popular and hard-to-find cast albums and performers’ CDs, as well as engaging in conversation with the highly knowledgeable staff and customers (well, mostly overhearing it on my part as I browsed the shelves).  I went there twice on my recent trip to London and I still count it as among the highlights of my time there.  I’m sure that if I lived there, I would be a regular customer, and although I have no clue when I will ever get back to London, the idea of this shop’s not being there when I do return is very sad.

I’ve read a few comments on some theatre message boards that have bothered me a little, because they seem to miss the point.  Basically, some people are saying that this shop was bound to close because of how the times have changed and the fact that more people are buying their CDs and books online at cheaper prices.  Some still seem sad that the shop may close, but others are more callous.  The thing is, a lot of these people don’t seem to get the idea that this place is much more than just a store to buy stuff.  It’s a gathering place for theatre people—fans, performers, composers, writers, and anyone else involved in the world of musical theatre in London.  It’s fun to hear and participate in the conversations that go on in the shop about various shows and theatre happenings in the city.  The shop also often hosts CD signings and special performances, and it’s a great resource for finding out what’s going on in the London theatre scene, with its many posters, flyers and magazines.

When I was there in March, I had the pleasure of attending a CD signing event for Stephanie (“Steph”) Fearon, who was a semi-finalist on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most recent  BBC talent show Over the Rainbow.  There was such a fun buzz in the shop as the small area was packed to the rafters with fans, as well as some of Steph’s friends and family.  We were treated to a short performance as well, and as all the people lined up outside the store and headed down the stairs for the signing, various conversations about musical theatre were going on around me and there was such a general air of excitement.  The shop has hosted many such signings over the years, featuring both well-known established performers and young up-and-coming talents.  It would be wonderful if these events would be able to continue.

Earlier in the week, I had visited the shop with a friend and had a much quieter but still extremely enjoyable experience as I was able to take time browsing the shelves and taking in the atmosphere of the place.  I ended up buying four CDs and picking up some show flyers and theatre magazines, and I had a much more fun time than I would have had if I had just ordered the CDs online.  There’s just something about a small, independent shop like this that so supports the thriving theatre industry in London that is such a joy to be a part of.  It’s a small, unassuming place, but it is a real treasure.

If anyone who reads this would like to help get the word out, you can follow @DressCircleShop on Twitter, as well as joining the “Save Dress Circle” page on Facebook and sharing these links with your friends.  Also, if you’re in London, go there!  Browse for a while and buy something.  Dress Circle is a London institution and a truly unique place.  I encourage theatre fans everywhere (whether in London or not) to help spread the word so that maybe they will find the financial support they need that will allow them to stay open and continue providing such great merchandise and delightful atmosphere to theatre fans from around the world. I love this shop, and I hope it will remain open for many, many years to come.