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Venue Focus Magazine Feature, Spring 2005 - 'Age Cannot Wither Her’

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Venue Focus Magazine Feature, Spring 2005 - 'Age Cannot Wither Her’ Information:

Madame Tussauds is London’s sprightliest OAP, says Astrid Mannion.

Madame Tussauds has been drawing the crowds for over 100 years but it’s certainly not resting on its laurels. Nor is it looking the slightest bit tired. Each year, the popular venue spends around £2 million on updating its facilities, most recently transforming the adjacent London Planetarium into Tussauds Showdome, a three-tiered space with impressive technology that includes programmable lighting, spectacular surround sound and Europe’s only full dome projection system.

‘We understand the need to evolve in tune with our clients’ expectations. Through constant development, we remain up to date and can offer a fantastic venue for parties,’ explains Michael Aldridge, who is head of events at the site. Madame Tussauds was recently voted the most popular creative party space in the UK by readers of RSVP magazine, so his approach is obviously working.

One of the main draws of the venue is the wide range of facilities it offers. Penny Ellis, the director of EventWise, threw a series of parties in Tussauds Showdome last Christmas and was impressed. ‘It is an incredibly flexible space. Even though the rooms are great for theming, we didn’t have to do much more than make use of the brilliant lighting, which really made a difference.’

All on-site areas can be used in conjunction with each other and there’s plenty more on offer in the main building. Here, organisers can perhaps choose to usher guests through the Spirit of London ride ahead of drinks and canapes in the contemporary party space Blush and dinner set against the more formal backdrop of the World Stage, where period features include stunning chandeliers, majestic pillars and a smart wooden floor. Other options include the Special Attraction Area, an ever-changing interactive attraction, and the dramatic black space that is Premiere Night.

Unsurprisingly, each area comes with an amazing collection of waxworks, something that really sets Madame Tussauds apart from other venues. Where else can your guests mingle with a roomful of A-list stars? Yeah, yeah – we know they’re not real but to catch a glimpse of Tom Cruise or Kylie smiling at you from across the room while you’re chatting to a client is nonetheless thrilling. It helps, of course, that the on-site events team ensures every guest is treated like a star (they even throw in a free hostess service, whatever the event) and we do recommend opting for red carpet arrivals to add that extra bit of glam factor.

Samantha Jones, a publicist for Sky Movies, is a big fan of Madame Tussauds. She recently brought her company’s Annual Journalist Movie Quiz to the venue and has nothing but praise for its ‘prime location’, ‘fun, flexible space’ and ‘great staff’ – no small compliment, considering her guests were critics from publications like Empire, Heat and The Times. Joining in the praise is Vanessa Hales, who used the venue for Camelot Group’s 10th birthday party. She said: ‘Many guests thought it was the best event they had ever been to’. How’s that for performance from an old dear?

Did you know?
· Madame Tussauds has a 2am license
· Waxworks can be moved to suit your theme
· Smoking is allowed in most areas
· The Spirit of London ride can transport
up to 1,500 people an hour
· Events can begin as early as 6.45pm
· The venue has full disabled access