West End sets sales record

London theaters, boosted by a string of hit musicals, enjoyed a record year in 2006 with ticket sales breaking the $780-million mark for the first time, according to figures released Monday.

After suffering a difficult start to the year with the industry hit by the aftereffects of the July 2005 London suicide bombings, the theater industry made a striking recovery to finish with box-office sales at a new high. Ticket revenues were up almost 5%, while attendances rose by almost half a percent to more than 12 million people, according to the Society of London Theatres.