West End LIVE 2020 to stream two specially commissioned highlights programs on June 20 and 21.

LONDON–West End LIVE have announced two specially commissioned highlights programs to be streamed on 20 and 21 June in place of the popular live event held at Trafalgar Square, which has sadly had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Two programs featuring the best of West End LIVE performances over the last 5 years will be broadcast live on West End LIVE’s Facebook page, one on the Saturday and the other on the Sunday. Both programs will be captioned and available to watch for 24 hours after premiering. There will also be a whole host of on-line activities throughout the weekend, with a schedule to be realized in advance, for fans to engage with and share their favorite West End Live memories.

West End Live is run by Westminster Council and the Society of London Theatre and has established itself over the years as a highlight of the theatrical year. It is a unique event for a world capital and one that provides a brilliant free taster of our wonderful shows and an introduction into the wider West End for tens of thousands of visitors who go on to enjoy shops, restaurants, and other attractions. We very much look forward to bringing it back bigger and better than ever before next year.

Sky VIP was due to partner with the live event this year so have commissioned a series of fifteen-minute videos of a selection of West End shows to share with their Sky VIP customers in the run up to what would have been West End LIVE weekend. These videos will then be available on Official London Theatre’s YouTube channel for everyone to see after June 20 and 21.

The theatre world has seen mass closures and cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic. With audiences unable to come to our theatres we have no income and our actors, musicians, technical teams, front of house and everyone involved in making theatre are facing a very uncertain future. We would be so grateful if everyone who enjoys West End LIVE would consider making a small donation to our charity to help support our sector at these unprecedented times. Full details will be available over the weekend. 

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LONDON’S BIGGEST THEATRE SHOWS TO PERFORM FOR FREE AS WEST END LIVE RETURNS

• The free theatre festival returns to Trafalgar Square on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June
• Performances from top London shows including new hits, crowd-pleasing classics and upcoming productions
• Family-friendly stalls, sing-alongs, signings, merchandise and activities

LONDON–The shows performing at this year’s West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square have been revealed.

The line-up will feature first time appearances from new hits Come From Away, Only Fools And Horses The Musical, Waitress, 9 To 5 The Musical, Fiddler On The Roof and Magic Mike Live amongst others – as well as the return of much-loved classics like Les Misérables, The Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked and Disney’s The Lion King.

Audiences will also get exclusive previews of hotly anticipated shows yet to arrive in the West End, including the Gloria Estefan musical On Your Feet!, Shakespearean pop musical & Juliet, dance spectacular Heartbeat Of Home  (from the company behind Riverdance) and the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

West End LIVE, produced and organised by Westminster City Council and Society of London Theatre (SOLT) with support from the Mayor of London, celebrates London’s world-leading West End theatre scene, which continues to break audience and box office records. Now in its 15th year, the totally free, unticketed event attracts tens of thousands of theatre fans to Trafalgar Square over the weekend.

Cllr Nickie Aiken, Westminster City Council leader, said:

‘West End LIVE shows why hundreds of thousands of people are drawn to our theatres every year. There is so much to do in the West End and we know that many people go on to combine the West End LIVE taster of world-class musicals with shopping and a visit to our landmark restaurants and bars. Last year’s shows were incredible. We are into our 15th year and it is going to be even bigger and better. Most importantly West End LIVE is still completely free!’

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT and UK Theatre, said:

‘Following another record-breaking year for London’s theatre industry, it is fantastic to be back in Trafalgar Square, continuing our partnership with the City of Westminster to showcase the extraordinary talent and creativity of so many top West End productions. Nowhere else do theatre fans get the opportunity to see exclusive live performances from their favourite shows – and all for free.’

‘COME FROM AWAY’: The hit West End musical is among many to perform at West End Live. Photo: Matthew Murphy

List of shows performing at West End LIVE 2019

Disney’s Aladdin

Avenue Q

BalletBoyz

Brainiac Live

Come From Away

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Fiddler On The Roof

Heartbeat Of Home

Jesus Christ Superstar

& Juliet

Disney’s The Lion King

Magic Mike Live

Mamma Mia!

Matilda The Musical

Les Misérables

On Your Feet!

Only Fools And Horses The Musical

The Phantom Of The Opera

Six

Thriller Live

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical

The View UpStairs

Waitress

Wicked

The Worst Witch

Yummy

9 To 5 The Musical

Further acts, presenters and performance schedules will be announced soon.

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.

westendlive.co.uk // @WestEndLIVE // @westendlive // @westendLIVE

officiallondontheatre.com/west-end-live

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WEST END LIVE: June 16 & 17, 2018 in London. Image: Courtesy of Society of London Theatre

 

West End LIVE returns to Trafalgar Square on 16 & 17 June

LONDON–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 colorful 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.

Trafalgar Square during West End LIVE 2017. Photo: Pamela Raith

Produced and organized 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 unrivaled 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 include:

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

Date and Time:  Saturday 16 June 11AM – 5PM // Sunday 17 June 12PM – 5PM

Location: Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN

Tickets: Free, no ticket required

Website: westendlive.co.uk

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