The hottest thing in London theatre? It’s nothing in the West End. “In five revolutionary years showbusiness has faced the fact that many of its biggest commercial names are stars of children’s TV shows.” The new ‘arena shows’ for the pre-school generation are drawing thousands. “Such shows, based on Thomas the Tank Engine, The Tweenies, Bob the Builder and Andy Pandy, draw in thousands of families who would not normally consider themselves theatre-goers. More than one million parents and children have now paid up to £20 a head to see the shows. A new ‘super-show’ of the CBeebies hit, Balamory, is expected to be seen by more than 55,000.”