- West End LIVE returns to Trafalgar Square on 16 & 17 June
- Performances from long-running favourites alongside debuts from new hit shows
- New partnership with Magic Radio announced, with Magic presenters including double Olivier Award-winner Ruthie Henshall hosting the weekend
- Variety of family-friendly stalls and activities
The full list of shows for West End LIVE 2018 has been released. A packed schedule of productions will be performing, featuring popular crowd-pleasers Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, The Phantom Of The Opera, Disney’s Aladdin, Dreamgirls, Bat Out Of Hell The Musical, Kinky Boots, Matilda The Musical, Motown The Musical, Everybody’s Talking about Jamie and Thriller Live.
Several new arrivals to London’s West End will also be making their West End LIVE debuts, including Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Eugenius!, Brief Encounter, Little Shop Of Horrors, Chicago, Heathers The Musical, Kiss Me, Kate, Knights Of The Rose, Six, Circolombia and Madagascar – A Musical Adventure.
The colourful showcase will culminate in a performance from chart-topping Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro on Saturday 16 June, and an exclusive cabaret of West End stars on Sunday 17 June.
Produced and organised by Westminster City Council and Society of London Theatre (SOLT), with support from the Mayor of London, West End LIVE is an annual highlight of London’s cultural calendar, with performances, fun photo opportunities, meet-and-greets, merchandise stalls, refreshments and sing-alongs attracting thousands of theatre fans young and old across the weekend.
London theatre audiences topped 15 million last year for the first time since records began, and West End LIVE – the largest free event of its kind and now in its 14th year – demonstrates the continuing strength of the city’s world-leading theatre landscape.
Cllr Nickie Aiken, Leader of Westminster City Council and Chair of the West End Partnership, said:
‘We are proud that the amazing West End LIVE has become an unmissable fixture in the London calendar and remains the largest free event of its kind in the world. We look forward to welcoming around 200,000 people over the event weekend to the heart of London’s iconic West End to enjoy best of the London theatre scene, as well as the unrivalled offer of the wider district with world-class entertainment, retail, restaurants and culture. London’s Theatreland is a jewel in our West End crown, with annual attendance numbers larger than the entire populations of Greece or Belgium, and we will do all we can to support it.’
Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT and UK Theatre, said:
‘We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the City of Westminster to bring the casts of London’s great shows to Trafalgar Square, giving theatre fans the chance to see exclusive performances for free. West End Live is a unique celebration of our world-leading theatre industry, and this year promises to be as diverse and entertaining as ever.’
Full list of shows participating in West End LIVE 2018
Disney’s Aladdin
Bat Out Of Hell The Musical
Brief Encounter
Chicago
Circolombia
Dreamgirls
Eugenius!
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Heathers The Musical
Kinky Boots
Kiss Me, Kate
Knights Of The Rose
Disney’s The Lion King
Little Shop Of Horrors
Madagascar
Mamma Mia!
Matilda The Musical
Les Misérables
Motown The Musical
The Phantom Of The Opera
Six
A Spoonful Of Sherman
Strictly Ballroom The Musical
Thriller Live
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Wicked
Performance schedules for the weekend will be released soon via the West End LIVE website.
For the first time, West End LIVE has partnered with Magic Radio, and top Magic presenters Ruthie Henshall, Emma B, Harriet Scott, Richard Allinson, Paul Hayes, Tom Price and Lynn Parsons will be hosting the weekend and introducing performances from the West End LIVE stage.
Official London Theatre (SOLT’s public-facing website) will be backstage at West End LIVE throughout the weekend sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
West End LIVE will be BSL interpreted by Sue MacLaine and Marco Nardi.
@SOLTNews @WestEndLIVE @CityWestminster @london_theatre #WestEndLIVE
westendlive.co.uk solt.co.uk westminster.gov.uk london.gov.uk
officiallondontheatre.com/west-end-live