LONDON—Due to the scheduling of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and out of respect for all who are mourning, most shows in central London have now announced that they will be closing on 19 September, 2022.

Ticketholders will receive an email from their point of purchase with details regarding exchanges and refunds. Throughout the period of national mourning, performances will go ahead as planned but we would advise audiences coming into central London to allow more time for their journeys to and from the theatre from Wednesday when the Queen will be lying in State.

In regards to the national one-minute silence at 8pm on Sunday 18 September, shows that are playing on that evening will mark this prior to curtain up.

For further information please see Official London Theatre

Information for theatregoers throughout the period of national mourning

Last Updated 14 September 2022

Below is some useful information on theatre in London during the period of national mourning and in the run up to the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II.

Information about theatre this week

Throughout the period of national mourning, performances will go ahead as planned but we would advise audiences coming into central London to allow more time for their journeys to and from the theatre.

From 5pm Wednesday 14 September the public will be able to pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen lying-in-state in Westminster Hall. The Hall will be open to the public 24 hours a day until the early morning of Monday 19 September.

At 2.22pm on Wednesday 14 September, there will be a procession of the Her Majesty The Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall along The Mall and House Guards Parade. This area will be extremely busy from mid-morning, with public viewing area opening from 11am. Several central roads will be closed to cars, so Transport for London have advised that walking, tube and train will be the best modes of transport.

Around Westminster and Southbank will be incredibly busy this week, and we expect the West End will also be much busier than usual.

The government and TfL have advised that the following stations will be very busy: Charing Cross, Embankment, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus, St James’s Park, Temple, Victoria, Waterloo & Westminster. They are asking that Green Park station only be used to provide a step-free route to those with accessibility needs, so customers visiting the West End should avoid this station. Due to road closures, some buses will also stop short of their destination or will be on diversion.

We recommend that you leave plenty of time to get to your performances and check transport advice – including the TfL website and the government website on the event – on the day.

Information about theatre on Monday 19 September

Due to the scheduling of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and out of respect for all who are mourning, most theatres in central London have now announced that they will be closing on 19 September. If you’re unsure whether a show you have tickets for is going ahead, check directly with the theatre’s website.

Ticketholders will receive an email from their point of purchase with details regarding exchanges and refunds.

Regarding the national one-minute silence at 8pm on Sunday 18 September, shows that are playing on that evening will mark this prior to curtain up.

The below shows have confirmed that performances scheduled on Monday 19 September will no longer be going ahead. We will add to this list as they are announced.

& Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre)

Antigone (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre)

The Apology (Arcola Theatre)

Back To The Future: The Musical (Adelphi Theatre)

The Book Of Mormon (Prince Of Wales Theatre)

Cabaret (The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre)

Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre)

The Crucible (National Theatre)

Dear Evan Hansen (Noël Coward Theatre)

The Doctors’ Orchestra (Cadogan Hall)

Eureka Day (The Old Vic)

Don Giovanni (The Royal Opera House)

Grease The Musical (Dominion Theatre)

Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre)

Handbagged (Kiln Theatre)

Jersey Boys (Trafalgar Theatre)

Life Of Pi (Wyndham’s Theatre)

Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre)

Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre)

Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Piccadilly Theatre)

The Mousetrap (St Martin’s Theatre)

Only Fools And Horses The Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket)

The Phantom Of The Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre)

To Kill A Mockingbird (Gielgud Theatre)

Shakespeare’s Globe will suspend all tours, events, activities and performances

The first preview of Blues For An Alabama Sky at the National Theatre on Tuesday 20 September has also been cancelled.

Her Majesty’s Theatre in London (above). Photo: Courtesy of Official London Theatre.

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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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WEST END LIVE: West End LIVE will again bring performers from the West End’s hottest shows to Trafalgar Square in London. Pictured: Last year’s event. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

LONDON–West End LIVE with MasterCard once again returns to the iconic setting of Trafalgar Square on Saturday, 18 and Sunday, 19 June 2016.

Celebrating its 12th year, the free musical extravaganza showcases the best of the West End. Attracting crowds of more than 500,000 people over the course of the weekend, West End LIVE with MasterCard is the largest event of its type in the world.

Organized by Westminster City Council and Official London Theatre with support from the Mayor of London, this year’s celebration is set to deliver another star-studded, packed weekend of free entertainment from the West End’s biggest shows.

The full line-up of performances will be announced shortly. For all the latest news ahead of Theatreland’s biggest weekend, visit /www.westendlive.co.uk

Official London Theatre is the consumer facing brand for the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), the not-for-profit organization which provides a collective voice for the theatre owners, producers and managers of all the major commercial and grant-aided theatres across London (visit http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/). As well as protecting the interests of all its member theatres, SOLT promotes theatregoing through activities including the Olivier Awards with MasterCard, the TKTS ticket booth, the Official London Theatre website and its printed fortnightly listings guide, Theatre Tokens and the popular annual celebration West End LIVE in association with MasterCard. It also administers the audience development initiatives Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre, and supports a number of theatrical charities including Stage One and Mousetrap Theatre Projects.

Image: West End LIVE

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Marking the start of the 40th Anniversary celebrations of The Olivier Awards in 2016, Society of London Theatre has announced The Oliviers In Concert. The special concert, in partnership with BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Concert Orchestra, will take place on Monday , 25 January, 2016 at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. The evening will feature a host of West End stars performing a selection of songs from celebrated stage musicals. The concert will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.

The BBC Concert Orchestra will be conducted by Keith Lockhart, Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra and Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra.

The Olivier Awards recognize theatrical excellence in London theatre and were established in 1976.

Tickets for The Oliviers In Concert are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk and www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Further details will be announced shortly.

About The Olivier Awards, Society of London Theatre & the BBC Concert Orchestra

Established in 1976, the Olivier Awards celebrates the world-class status of London theatre and are Britain’s most prestigious stage honors. For further information visit: www.olivierawards.com

Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is the not-for-profit organization which provides a collective voice for the theatre owners, producers and managers of all the major commercial and grant-aided theatres across London. As well as protecting the interests of all its member theatres, SOLT promotes theatregoing through activities including the Olivier Awards with MasterCard, the TKTS ticket booth, the Official London Theatre website and its printed fortnightly listings guide, Theatre Tokens and the popular annual celebration West End LIVE in association with MasterCard. It also administers the audience development initiatives Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre, and supports a number of theatrical charities including Stage One and Mousetrap Theatre Projects.

About the BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is one of the UK’s most versatile ensembles. Since 1952 it has been the house orchestra for BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night. It gives frequent broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and has performed on numerous BBC soundtracks. Keith Lockhart is Principal Conductor, Barry Wordsworth is Conductor Laureate, and composer and jazz trumpeter Guy Barker is Associate Composer. The BBC Concert Orchestra give four BBC Proms in 2015, including the Proms premiere of Fiddler on the Roof (25 July), a Prom inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s breath-taking television series Life Story (30 August) and the world premiere of The Lanterne of Light by its Associate Composer Guy Barker (6 September), as well as Sherlock Holmes – A Musical Mind (16 August). The BBC Concert Orchestra is an Associate Orchestra of Southbank Centre. The Orchestra returns to Watford Colosseum for recordings, broadcasts and concerts. Involvement in key BBC Music initiatives have included ‘Ten Pieces’ for primary schoolchildren, the BBC Music Awards and the film and Children in Need CD release of ‘God Only Knows’. www.bbc.co.uk/concertorchestra

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