Controversial and neglected musicals are being rediscoverd writes Richard Hodkinson

MUSICAL theatre appears to be in rude health. No fewer than 18 long-playing, all singin’, all dancin’ shows are comfortably ensconced in the West End’s largest houses with Billy Elliot and Guys and Dolls due to arrive shortly.
The success of the hugely profitable mega-shows disguises a period of real decline for the musical, however. Of the mainstream shows currently playing, 11 are either revivals or re-workings. Of the rest, Les Miserables, Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Blood Brothers and The Woman in White have been running for years or are certain to do so. That leaves Victoria Woods’ Acorn Antiques and Stomp, a dance piece rather than a true musical. New, small-scale or quirky shows do occasionally emerge on the fringe but few make an impression on the mainstream West End audience.

Novelist Hunter Davies explains to Jane Wright the importance of libraries to civilisation

THE behaviour of writer Hunter Davies hardly chimes at times with his role as patron of the Friends of Highgate Library.
He confesses cheerfully that his wife, the novelist Margaret Forster, “reads one novel every day, but while she’s doing that, I prefer to watch football on telly”.
He adds that, since he agreed to be patron of his local library support group in 1993: “I’ve done bugger all for the library, though I have been going there regularly for the past three months. I’m writing a biography of Sean Connery at the moment and I’ve been getting his videos out.”
Nevertheless, Mr Davies, 68, is set to speak at the 10th anniversary meeting of the Friends at the library in Chester Road, Highgate, from 7.30pm tonight (Thursday), when he will reflect on his writing career, “From The Beatles to Gazza”.