Laurence Olivier performed in England.
Laurence Olivier . In 1930 he had his first important West End success in Noël Coward 's Private Lives , and he appeared in his first film . West End theatre is a common term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of `` Theatreland '' in and near the West End of London . Along with New York City 's Broadway theatre , West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world . Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London .