Andrew Lloyd Webber's Solution for These Troubled Economic Times

[muscle23ftl]

Andrew Lloyd Webber is offering free theatre tickets to bankers who have lost their jobs in the current financial meltdown.

Between now and October 15th, bank employees who visit the West End box offices of The Sound of Music and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be able to claim two free tickets for one of the shows on production of a P45 issued after September 1st, 2008.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: ""Both The Sound of Music and Joseph are feel good shows and I thought that free tickets might offer some respite, albeit for a couple of hours, for some of those people who have sadly lost their jobs in the current economic upheaval. All you have to do is present your P45 as proof at the box office and two free tickets are yours."

The offer is subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.

[madlibrarian]

What is a P45?

[Scripps2]

"What is a P45?"

The legally required document given to you when you leave employment with an organisation, recording how much you earned and how much tax you paid during that term of employment.

[Weez]

I've got a P45 somewhere... damn, it's dated July. And I didn't work in the City anyway...

People are torn on this issue. Approximately... 95% think it's a ridiculous, stupid, insulting publicity stunt. And the other 5% (myself included) are apparently quite naive because we think it ain't much, but it's still a nice idea. XD

[shira467]

It's a stunt, sure - but still a nice idea.

[Fosse76]

So the only people ALW thinks deserve to see his shows are people in the banking industry? Other people who lose their jobs because of these troubling economic times are undeserving?

[muscle23ftl]

I think it's a wonderful idea, he has been very lucky and it's good to see that some successful artists want to give something back to the people that made them. Yes, I guess it's unfair that is only to the people in the banking industry, but it's a start and maybe more generous people will follow.