Michael Ball (singer) artist in a controversial 'Musical Theatre' Prom on 27 August 2007 for the BBC at London's Royal Albert Hall. Ball performed a wide range of musical theatre numbers, including several by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show was broadcast live on BBC Four, as well as on BBC Radio 3. From October 2007 – July 2009, Ball made his West End return starring as Edna Turnblad in the hit musical "Hairspray" at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. In March 2008, he was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal. He also won the Whatsonstage.com
West End theatre "The Phantom of the Opera", "Lion King" and Willy Russell's "Blood Brothers" which have also subsequently overtaken "Cats". However the non-musical Agatha Christie play "The Mousetrap" is the longest-running production in the world, and has been performed continuously since 1952. The following have been announced as future West End productions. The theatre in which they will run is either not yet known or currently occupied by another show. The term "West End theatre" is generally used to refer specifically to commercial productions in Theatreland. However, the leading non-commercial theatres in London enjoy great artistic prestige. These include the Royal National