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West End Live 2021 Lineup Announced

West End LIVE is finally back on stage in 2021, heralding the triumphant return of London’s world-leading theatre industry!

Forming part of Westminster City Council’s Inside Out Festival and the Society of London Theatre’s #BackOnStage campaign, West End LIVE will see Trafalgar Square transformed into an open-air theatre like no other, treating thousands of theatre fans to free performances from the West End’s top shows over the weekend of 18 and 19 September. 

This year’s event features the first ever West End LIVE appearances from award-winning musicals Hamilton and The Book Of Mormon, as well as an exciting roster of new shows – including The Prince Of Egypt, Disney’s Frozen, Dear Evan Hansen, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Back To The Future: The Musical and Pretty Woman: The Musical – alongside many established favourites.

In total, over 30 shows and acts will take to the stage for this unique celebration of theatre, a joint production by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT).

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT, said:

‘It is fantastic to be able to bring West End LIVE back this year. I can’t think of a better way to fully welcome back our beloved productions and celebrate the incredible talent, resilience and creativity on our stages, and to put on an unforgettable show for the countless theatre lovers who have supported our industry so passionately in its time of need.’

Cllr Rachael Robathan, leader of Westminster City Council, said:

‘I have been proud of all the West End LIVE shows we have staged in partnership with SOLT over the years – but this year’s event is particularly momentous as it shows the world the West End is back in business.

‘The stellar line-up for this year’s West End LIVE weekend draws a line under that. We look forward to welcoming people back safely to Trafalgar Square for a free, two-day taster of their favourite musicals – old and new. Enjoy the magic this September – West End LIVE is back!’

West End LIVE welcomes Sky VIP as a supporting partner for the first time, after working with SOLT and a raft of London shows over the past year to create exclusive videos for their Sky VIPs, giving vital opportunities to performers during the pandemic.

The event also continues its partnership with Magic Radio, with an array of leading Magic presenters co-hosting the stage across the weekend, including Emma B, Tom Price, Sonali Shah and more to be announced.

Official London Theatre will be backstage throughout the weekend sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content across our social channels.

The event will be BSL interpreted by Sue MacLaine and Marco Nardi.

How much do tickets cost ?

West End LIVE will remain free and unticketed as in previous years. To keep everyone safe, however, all attendees aged 18 and over will be asked to demonstrate their Covid status to gain entry to the event.  

List of shows appearing at West End LIVE 2021

More shows are likely to be announced in the lead-up to the event

& Juliet 

Amélie The Musical

Back To The Future The Musical

The Book Of Mormon

The Choir Of Man

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella

Come From Away

Dear Evan Hansen

Doctor Who: Time Fracture

Dreamgirls UK Tour

English National Opera

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World 

Disney’s Frozen

Grease UK Tour

The Great Gatsby

Hamilton

Heathers The Musical

Jersey Boys

Les Misérables

Disney’s The Lion King

Magic Goes Wrong

Magic Mike Live

Mamma Mia!

Mary Poppins

Matilda The Musical

The Phantom Of The Opera

Pretty Woman: The Musical

The Prince Of Egypt

Rock of Ages UK Tour

Six

The Last Five Years 

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical

Find out more at www.westendlive.co.uk

Categories
Everything Changes News

Everything Changes (Week 7/1/19 – 13/1/19)

It’s our first ever “Everything Changes” feature! This is the weekly feature that keeps you informed of shows that are opening and closing in the UK theatre scene and yes, it’s a reference to Waitress (which is opening in the West End this February!).


Opening Up!

Coming Clean – Trafalgar Studios 2 (from 9th January)

Coming Clean opens at Trafalgar Studios 2 on 9th January.
  • Location: Trafalgar Studios 2
  • Dates: 9th Jan to 2nd Feb 2019
  • Cast: Lee Knight (Tony), Stanton Plummer-Cambridge (Greg), Tom Lambert (Robert) & Elliot Hadley (William/Jurgen)
  • Creatives: Kevin Elyot (Author), King’s Head Theatre (Producer), Making Productions Limited (Producer), RGM Productions (Producer), Adam Spreadbury-Maher (Director), Nic Farman (Lighting) & Amanda Mascarenhas (Design)

Following a critically acclaimed run at the London’s King’s Head Theatre, the producers behind the Olivier nominated La Boheme transfer the smash-hit, sell-out play by Kevin Elyot, writer of the landmark drama My Night With Reg, transfers to Trafalgar Studios 2 this January.

Tony and Greg seem to have love all figured out. They’re in a committed relationship but with room for a little more on the side whenever it takes their fancy. The only rule? Never sleep with the same man twice.

When drop-dead gorgeous Robert walks into their lives, the fragile foundations of their sexual contract are thrown into jeopardy.

Funny, fresh and packed with razor-sharp wit, Coming Clean questions the nature of fidelity and the limits of love.


Songs for Nobodies – Ambassadors Theatre (from 9th Jan)

Songs for Nobodies transfers to the West End on 9th Jan
  • Location: Ambassadors Theatre
  • Dates: 9th Jan to 23rd Feb 2019
  • Cast: Bernadette Robinson
  • Creatives: Joanna Murray-Smith (Author) & Simon Phillips (Director)

After a stunning run at Wilton’s Music Hall, and after overwhelming demand, Songs for Nobodies is transferring to the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre for a strictly limited run starting 9 January. This one woman show is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

For 90 minutes, accompanied only by live musicians, Bernadette Robinson singlehandedly tells the tales of five everyday women whose lives are changed when they briefly encounter fame and the legendary singers who had such an impact on them. Bringing to life powerhouse voices across vastly different genres of music, Bernadette Robinson has a versatility that is truly astonishing. Watch as she brings Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas to life as you listen.

Bernadette Robinson’s talent is nearly unbelievable so don’t miss your chance to see it for yourself.


Violet – Charing Cross Theatre (from 12th Jan)

Violet opens at Charing Cross Theatre on 12th Jan
  • Location: Charing Cross Theatre
  • Dates: 12th Jan to 6th Apr 2019
  • Cast: Kaisa Hammarlund (Violet), Matthew Harve (Monty), Jay Marsh (Flick), Simbi Akande, Angelica Allen, Kenneth Avery-Clark, Keiron Crook, James Gant, Danny Michaels, Janet Mooney, Amy Mepham, Rebecca Nardin & Madeleine Sellman (Young Violet)
  • Creatives: Jeanine Tesori (Music), Brian Crawley (Book & Lyrics), Steven M Levy (Producer), Vaughan Williams (for Charing Cross Theatre Productions Ltd) (Producer), Umeda Arts Theater Co Ltd (Osaka Japan) (Producer), Shuntaro Fujita (Director), Cressida Carre (Choreographer), Morgan Large (Design), Jonathan Lipman (Costume), Howard Hudson (Lighting), Andrew Johnson (Sound) & Dan Jackson (Musical Director)

1964. Somewhere between North Carolina and Oklahoma, we find Violet, a young woman who was facially disfigured as a child. She hopes her life savings will bring her a miracle halfway across the country. Reflecting on her childhood, and shaped by the reactions of the people she encounters, Violet embarks on a life-changing personal journey.

Based on The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts.


Another Opening Of Another Show

  • The War of The Worlds (The New Diorama Theatre, 8 Jan to 9 Feb)
  • Anomaly (Old Red Lion, 8 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Franz Kafka – Apparatus (White Bear, 8 to 26 Jan)
  • In Lipstick (Pleasance, 8 to 27 Jan)
  • In Conversation with Graham Norton (The Hope Theatre, 8 to 26 Jan)
  • Two of a Kind (Bread and Roses, 8 to 12 Jan)
  • Salt (Theatre503, 9 to 10 Jan)
  • Rosenbaum’s Rescue (Park Theatre, 9 Jan)
  • Approaching Empty (The Kiln, 9 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Stop and Search (Arcola, 9 Jan to 9 Feb)
  • Outlying Islands (The King’s Head Theatre, 9 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Original Death Rabbit (Jermyn Street Theatre, 9 Jan to 9 Feb)
  • Valhalla (White Bear, 9 Jan to 10 Jan)
  • The Daughter-In-Law (Arcola, 10 Jan to 2 Feb)
  • Olivier de Sagazan – Transfiguration (The Lilian Baylis Theatre, 10 to 11 Jan)
  • The Murder Express (Pedley Street Station, 11 Jan to 31 Mar)
  • Gone (Theatre503, 11 to 13 Jan)
  • Snow Baby (Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 12 Jan)
  • Murder, She Didn’t Write (Leicester Square Theatre, 13 Jan to 19 May)
  • Extra Virgin (Above the Stag Theatre, 13 Jan to 10 Feb)
  • I’m Sorry But… (Bread and Roses, 13 to 14 Jan)
  • Waiting for Curry (The King’s Head Theatre, 13 to 14 Jan)

Happy Trails!

Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls & The Band are a few of the shows that are closing this week.

8 Jan

  • Cuttings (Theatre503)

9 Jan

  • The Tell-Tale Heart (Dorfman Theatre (National Theatre))

10 Jan

  • Salt (Theatre503)
  • Valhalla (White Bear)

11 Jan

  • Olivier de Sagazan – Transfiguration (The Lilian Baylis Theatre)

12 Jan

  • A Christmas Carol (Arts)
  • Dreamgirls (Savoy)
  • Hole (Royal Court – Jerwood Theatre)
  • Kinky Boots (Adelphi)
  • Mother Goose Cracks One Out! (Above the Stag Theatre)
  • Snow Baby (Half Moon Young People’s Theatre)
  • The Band (Theatre Royal Haymarket)
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles (Drayton Arms Theatre)
  • Two of a Kind (Bread and Roses)
  • Uncle Vanya (Hampstead Theatre)

13 Jan

  • Gone (Theatre503)
  • Murder For Two (The Other Palace)
  • Room on the Broom (Lyric)
  • Sherlock Homeless – The Anatomy of Rubbish (Barons Court Theatre)
  • Snow White at The London Palladium (London Palladium)
  • Swan Lake (London Coliseum)

It is going to be a crazy week with a lot of long-running shows leaving the West End this weekend. With last weekend’s closings of Bat Out Of Hell, Chicago and 42nd Street, followed by this weekend’s closings of A Christmas Carol, Dreamgirls, Kinky Boots, The Band and Snow White…well, the West End is going to look a lot different!

This will also mean that the West End will start to see signs of new shows arriving with new marquees for shows such as Come From Away at the Phoenix, 9 to 5 at the Savoy, Six at the Arts, Waitress at the Adelphi and Only Fools and Horses at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.