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'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

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#1

'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/28/08 at 9:37pm

'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

I couldn't quiet believe what my eyes saw earlier today as i went up the escalator at Piccadilly Circus.
There, advertised on both sides on the bill boards, were posters for Sunday church services at The Piccadilly Theatre, the major West End theatre, currently home to the musical, 'Grease'. There are services there every Sunday run by a group called 'ChristChurch London' between 4pm and 6pm!
Has anyone else noticed this? I havent spoken to one single person today who had heard of this.
How long has this group been hiring The Piccadilly off The Ambassadors Theatre Group?
I've never heard of a major West End theatre being used on a regular basis as a church!
What's going on?
Many strange thoughts went through my mind, such as, maybe one day in the not too distant future The Piccadilly may be lost to full time church services the same as what happened to New York's gorgeous Mark Hellinger Theatre 20 years ago. Stranger things have happened and its well known that church groups have endless cash flows. West End theatres are not cheap to hire weekly, monthly or daily. For example, The London palladium costs close to £22,000 for a Sunday hire.
Thoughts.


Updated On: 10/28/08 at 09:37 PM

#2

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 4:26am

"I've never heard of a major West End theatre being used on a regular basis as a church! "

Besides, of course, the Dominion. =)

I thought Songs of Praise traveled throughout the country so the Piccadilly could be a one-off.
#3

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 5:34am

LOL The Songs Of Praise thread title was just a joke! The Piccadilly thing is a permanent weekly event.
Really -does the Dominion do this? My God! (no pun intended!)
#4

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 5:44am

Hillsongs London has met at the Dominion for years. Christchurch London has only recently started.
Its actually quite difficult for new churches who want to meet in the city centre to find a location for this as much of the city space is already taken. Theatres make good locations as they have the space for a large number of people and are in general, can accommodate a sunday slot.
#5

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 5:50am

They must come to some very special arrangement to have that particular venue as I mentioned before, London theatres cost a fortune to hire- anything up to £30,000 a night.
Great photo opportunity tho, just as I do every single time I go to New York and go visit The Mark Hellinger
#6

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 5:53am

I can just imagine the Church Leader stood on the stage on the yellow grease Bleachers with Elvis posters all around him lol
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
#7

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 6:56am

My brother's girlfriend attends church at the Dominion so I've known about it for a while but I thought it was the only one in the West End. I know a lot of regional receiving houses often lend their services to the spirit of the Lord, lots of actresses saying things to bishops and so forth.

I was on Songs of Praise once. I was standing in the line for communion at Arundel Cathedral. My nan taped it.

Updated On: 10/29/08 at 06:56 AM

#9

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 8:28am

I told you my horrific channel hopping story, didn't I? The scariest Su Pollard moment of my life. It inspired me to burn a church.

I like Thora Hird. She looks a bit like the talking tree in Pocahontas. Shame about the whole being dead thing.
#10

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 9:36am

..."I've never heard of a major West End theatre being used on a regular basis as a church! "

Besides, of course, the Dominion. =)...


Hillsongs London! I thought you were referring to Bernadette The Musical...
"I tend to think if god wanted us to believe in him, he'd exist" Linda Smith
#12

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 9:54am

Indeed 'the people's musical' which went the same way as 'the people's princess'....
"I tend to think if god wanted us to believe in him, he'd exist" Linda Smith
#13

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 10:10am

When someone brings up this broken stained glass musical, my first memory is of the line of candles that shot up at the front of the stage, some came up, some didn't, some lit up some didn't- I was in hysterics!
The next thing I always recall is the actual 'grotto' truck that was rolled on- my god there are better cave sets for pantomine productions of 'Aladdin' every year in the provinces than what was trying to pass as a West End set!
10 hail Marys for me OK.
#14

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 10:53am

I have never heard of Bernadette the musical... was it as beautifully **** as it sounds? Can I download songs anywhere? My mum's called Bernadette and she'd love (hate) me sing something to her. In public.
#15

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 11:33am

For your mothers sake and that of public safety you will not be allowed to hear anything from this, one of the most famous West End flops! Where were you?


Updated On: 10/29/08 at 11:33 AM

#16

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 1:30pm

But if you did want to hear a song from the show.....

(Just don't blame me if you gouge out your own eyeballs and pour salt in the socket to take the edge of the ear pain that occurs when christians get hold of an electric guitar)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TzSbDeO21D8

Proof indeed that the devil has the best tunes.

"I tend to think if god wanted us to believe in him, he'd exist" Linda Smith
#18

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 10/29/08 at 9:24pm

Would it not be possible for the church to recoup on bar sales.

Joking aside I thought that was the only way any theatre makes money directly through the bar, does a production have to pay to hire the theater as well?
#25

re: 'Songs Of Praise' At The Piccadilly Theatre ???

Posted: 11/12/08 at 11:00am

That reminds me of a time when I was in Leicester Square and there was some random Christian rock thing, and the main guy was shouting "When I say Jesus, you say CHRIST!! JESUS...!" and about 10 people replied, but so enthusiastically...it was weird.
Also, about SoP, Steve Balsamo and Keith Jack are on it on Sunday apparently.

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