An incredible line-up of London’s top musicals will perform at this year’s West End Live in association with MasterCard, the biggest free musical theatre festival in the world that this year returns to two of London’s most iconic squares.
Taking place on 20 and 21 June, West End LIVE is presented by Official London Theatre and Westminster City Council, and will see half a million theatre lovers flock to the capital for two days of sensational entertainment.
In Trafalgar Square, the West End LIVE stage will present a weekend packed full of live performances from the West End’s numerous popular musicals and some of the world’s most talented singers. In Leicester Square the festival will celebrate London’s incredible plays with a unique theatre experience including the chance to pet a dinosaur (yes, really) and have your photo taken with an Olivier Award.
Joining previously announced musicals Billy Elliot The Musical, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical and Sunny Afternoon performing over the weekend in Trafalgar Square are a host of new and old favourites.
Returning to the event are The Commitments, Disney’s The Lion King, Les Misérables, Let It Be, Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games, Miss Saigon, The Phantom Of The Opera, Stomp, Thriller Live, War Horse and Wicked, plus the touring productions of former West End hits Avenue Q and Shrek The Musical.
Making their West End LIVE debuts are American Idiot, Burt Bacharach – Reimagined, The Dreamers, Dusty, Gypsy, Memphis The Musical and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.
On Sunday there will be a treat for cabaret fans with the return of the Ben Stock-hosted West End Cabaret, featuring performances from some of the West End’s best loved stars. The public is also invited to have their say as to the show tunes performed by tweeting their suggestions using the hashtag #WestEndLIVE before 10 June.
Over in Leicester Square, theatre fans are invited for the second year running to West End LIVE’s exclusive pop-up theatre experience with the return of its stunning 1920s Spiegeltent.
As well as the chance to meet the stars of Dinosaur Zoo, there’s also plenty of fun for family and adults alike with West End storytelling sessions, appearances from Aliens Love Underpants and Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain, and the chance to take a look at some of the West End’s most iconic costumes up close, watch make-up demonstrations and discover the secrets of shows including the multi Olivier Award-winning hit The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The 39 Steps and this year’s Best New Comedy Olivier Award winner The Play That Goes Wrong.
Speaking about the 11th ever West End LIVE, Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, the organisation behind Official London Theatre, said: “Theatre is one of the capital’s greatest draws with an international reputation for offering world-class entertainment, and West End LIVE is a unique opportunity to showcase the quality and diversity of shows the London stage has to offer as well as putting on a great free family event for the public to enjoy.”