The show must go on...

As femme fatale Roxie Hart, she helped make the musical Chicago an international hit. Now Ruthie Henshall has ensured the show goes on in theatreland despite the bombers.

She took the lead as Marian last night in Andrew Lloyd Webber's hi-tech spectacular The Woman In White.

All London theatres went dark last Thursday as a mark of respect to those killed and injured by in the Tube and bus attacks.

It was the first time they had closed since the Second World War. But the Society of West End Theatre has reported a strong return by audiences refusing to be cowed by the terrorists.

Box-office reports are "encouraging" - with ticket sales suffering far less than after the September 11 attacks in the US.

Henshall, 37, heads a new cast at the Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. Her return to the stage comes only six months since the birth of her second daughter, Dolly Olivia. Her first child, Lily, is now two-and-a-half.

The musical, based on Wilkie Collins's 1860 thriller, opened last September with Maria Friedman and Michael Crawford and in the lead roles. With its computergenerated scenery, it has proved one of Lord Lloyd-Webber's biggest successes.

Anthony Andrews, famed for his role as Sebastian in Brideshead Revisited, continues opposite Ms Henshall in the role of dastardly Count Fosco, originally played by Crawford.

Richard Pulford, the society's chief executive, said: "Like the rest of London, theatre people will not be intimidated by terrorism. They are absolutely determined that life shall go on as normal.

"The year to date has been one of the strongest on record, and the industry will continue to offer theatregoers the life-enhancing experience that the performing arts are uniquely well-equipped to provide."

Society president Rosemary Squire said: "The London theatre industry has always been united in difficult times. Our message is clear to those who seek to destroy our freedom: in London's West End, the show will go on."

Across London, cultural events were as numerous and diverse as ever. Openings included The Arab-Israeli Cookbook at the Tricycle theatre in Kilburn, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Bright Eyes at Somerset House and jazz musician Diana Schuur at Ronnie Scott's.

Today commuters were continuing their return to the capital on the Tube and buses. Yesterday, the capital was boosted with news of higher than expected retail sales in central London last month. - up 3.6 per cent on June last year.

This also bucked the national trend, where there was a small decline.