Big crowds for West End Live 2010

Over 250,000 people gather in Leicester Square for free West End theatre event.

View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010

West End Live, a free event held in the West End this weekend, showcased the best of London theatre and attracted over a quarter of a million people.

Now in its sixth year and the largest free theatre festival in the world, the event featured the casts of some of London’s biggest shows including Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.

An array of West End stars performed at the event including Ramin Karimloo (Love Never Dies), Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Patina Miller (Sister Act), Daniel Boys (Wolfboy) and Ryan Molloy (Jersey Boys).

Councillor Robert Davis of Westminster City Council, who organised the event, said: “Without doubt, this has been our biggest and best West End LIVE. We’ve seen spectacular performances from some of the nation’s favourite shows.”

Nica Burns, President of the Society of London Theatre said: “London has the best theatre in the world and West End LIVE is a fantastic opportunity for people to sample some of the West End’s most popular shows for free.” The success of the past weekend suggests that a quarter of a million satisfied theatre fans agree.

View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010

West End Live this weekend

A free event will be held in London this weekend, showcasing the best of West End theatre.

West End Live will feature the casts of some of London’s biggest shows, performing at a free event this weekend in Leicester Square. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June 2010, hundreds of West End performers will gather to showcase the best of London theatre. Careful juggling by the organisers has enabled the casts of over 25 shows to appear live on a stage in Leicester Square in between performing their matinee and evening performances.

Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.

The line-up for the celebration has now been confirmed, with Brazil! Brazil! launching the weekend at 11am on Saturday.

Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.

West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event,  including Daniel Boys (Wolfboy), who will be hosting proceedings from 12 noon to 6pm on Sunday 20 June, Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods).

Saturday’s full line up* is as follows: 11.00am Brazil! Brazil!; 11.15am Dirty Dancing; 11.25am Burn the Floor; 11.35am Wicked; 11.45am We Will Rock You; 12.05pm Billy Elliot; 12.15pm Love Never Dies; 12.30pm Chicago; 12.45pm HAIR; 13.05pm Jersey Boys; 13.25pm Sweet Charity; 13.35pm Grease; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm Sister Act; 14.10pm Thriller Live; 14.30pm Julie Atherton; 14.40pm Avenue Q; 15.00pm Into the Woods; 15.20pm Fireman Sam; 15.30pm Sylvia Young Theatre School; 15.50pm Burn the Floor; 16:00pm The Big Dance; 16:20pm London Gay Men’s Chorus; 16:35pm Burn The Floor; 16.45pm The Gleeks; 17.10pm Royal Albert Hall; 17.35pm All the Fun of the Fair; 17.45pm STOMP.

On Sunday* there’s more theatrical thrills and spills with: 12.00pm Tap Dogs; 12.15pm Stomp; 12.30pm Thriller Live; 12.55pm Jersey Boys; 13.10pm Priscilla Queen of the Deasert; 13.25pm Legally Blonde; 13.35pm Disney’s The Lion King; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm West End Kids; 14.15pm Daniel Boys; 14.30pm National Youth Music Theatre; 14.45pm Into the Woods; 15.10pm Mark Jermin Stage School; 15.30pm Fireman Sam; 15.45pm Jack Day; 16.00pm T Mobile Big Dance; 16.20pm West End Gospel Choir; 16.40pm Burn the Floor; 16.50pm SOLT competition; 17.00pm 1916 the Musical; 17.15pm Burn the Floor; 17.25pm Dover Street.

* Timetable and acts subject to change – check West End Live site for details.

To get the party started early, the cast of Wicked will also be performing on Friday 18 June 2010 at Cardinal Place, Victoria between 12.30 and 1pm for a pre West End LIVE performance.

The weekend event will feature exhibits and activities including the London Film Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum, Little Angel Puppet theatre and Forbidden Planet.

Over a quarter of a million people attended last year’s event in Leicester Square.  Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event is organised by Westminster City Council.

Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.

Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.

LINKS: West End Live website

OLIVIER AWARDS – Best Choreographer Winners

OLIVIER AWARDS – Best Choreographer Winners

Best Theatre Choreographer

2010 Stephen Mear for Hello Dolly!
2009 Steven Hoggett for Black Watch
2008 Toby Sedgewick for War Horse
2007 Javier De Frutos for Cabaret
2006 Peter Darling for Billy Elliot – The Musical
2005 Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear for Mary Poppins
2004 Karen Bruce for Pacific Overtures
2003 Matthew Bourne and Company for Play Without Words
2002 Matthew Bourne for My Fair Lady
2001 Bob Fosse and Ann Reinking for Fosse
2000 Garth Fagan for The Lion King
1999 Susan Stroman for Oklahoma!
1998 Simon McBurney for The Caucasian Chalk Circle
1997 Bob Avian for Martin Guerre
1996 Dein Perry for Tap Dogs
1995 David Atkins and Dein Perry for Hot Shoe Shuffle
1994 Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas for Stomp
1993 Susan Stroman for Crazy For You
1992 Rafael Aguilar for Matador
1991 Charles Augins for Five Guys Named Moe

Free West End event scheduled

The casts of London’s biggest shows are being allowed out of their theatres again this year to perform at the West End’s annual live event in Leicester Square.

West End Live is a weekend of free entertainment on 19 and 20 June that promises to showcase the best of London’s Theatreland.

Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event initiated by Westminster City Council will see 23 shows perform on a stage in Leicester Square.

Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing, The Fantasticks and Jersey Boys.

West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event,  including Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods). More stars are expected to be announced shortly.

Last year’s event attracted around 250,000 people.

Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.

LINKS: West End Live website

Fantastic Fridays Hotel & Theatre Breaks

Westendtheatre.com presents a brand new promotion offering special deals on West End hotels and theatres when staying on a Friday evening in London.

Our “Fantastic Fridays” promotion runs until the end of October 2010 and offers a Top Price Seat to a hit show and a Friday night stay in a central London 4 Star hotel for only £79* per person.

Shows included in the special theatre and hotel package range from smash-hit musicals such as Wicked, Chicago, Grease, Blood Brothers, Dreamboats and Petticoats and Stomp, to hilarious comedy The 39 Steps and thriller The Woman in Black.

More information and booking > > >

SHOWS INCLUDED IN THE PROMOTION

	WICKED Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	MUSICAL: Winner of this year’s audience award at the Olivier awards, Wicked is one of the biggest and most successful shows in London (Apollo Victoria Theatre)	More Info
	CHICAGO Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	MUSICAL: The sexy tale of murderous showgirls, featuring hit songs and plenty of razzle dazzle (Cambridge Theatre)	More info
	THE 39 STEPS Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	COMEDY: A fast-paced, high-energy and hilarious adaptation of Hitchcock’s classic movie (Criterion Theatre)	More info
	BLOOD BROTHERS Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	MUSICAL: Willy Russell’s award-winning musical about twins separated at birth, currently starring The Spice Girls’ Melanie C (Phoenix Theatre)	More info
	GREASE Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	MUSICAL: Fun and fabulous high school musical now starring Robin Cousins (Piccadilly Theatre)	More info
	STOMP Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	ENTERTAINMENT: Theatre, dance, comedy and percussion all combine in this infectious and ingenious show (Ambassadors Theatre)	More info
	THE WOMAN IN BLACK Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	THRILLER: Terrifying ghost story now in its 21st year in the West End, starring Orlando Wells (Fortune Theatre).	More info
	DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS Friday Night 4* Theatre Break Offer	MUSICAL: A love story set in 1961 against a backdrop of fabulous Sixties songs (Playhouse Theatre)	More info

More information and booking > > >

Terms and conditions of the Hotel and Theatre promotion:

• Exact Shows and hotels offered may be subject to change and vary according to availability

• Package Price based on 2 persons sharing standard Twin / Double room

• Package Valid for Friday Arrivals only between 17/03/2010 – 29/10/2010

Sunday shows in the West End

An increasing number of West End shows are now playing on a Sunday, with much of the centre of London open for shopping, eating and entertainment all weekend.

Shows playing on a Sunday include Jersey Boys, the award-winning Broadway musical at the Prince Edward Theatre in London based on the music and lives of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons; Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre; Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre; Stomp at the Ambassadors Theatre; The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre; selected plays at the National Theatre; Australian dance sensation Tap Dogs at the Novello Theatre; terrifying Ghost Stories at the Duke of York’s Theatre; and classic family story The Railway Children in an exciting new venue at Waterloo station.

New shows coming to London that will also feature Sunday performances include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi-million pound production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, and Simon Russell-Beale and Jonathan Groff in Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre.

SUNDAY SHOWS

Jersey Boys joins Sunday shows

Jersey Boys has joined a number of other high-profile West End shows in running performances on a Sunday.

The award-winning Broadway musical at the Prince Edward Theatre in London held its first Sunday performance yesterday, Sunday 17 January, and has dropped its Monday night performance from the schedule to now run Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, and Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3.00pm.

Jersey Boys has won twenty-one major international awards since first opening on Broadway in 2006 including Best Musical at the Olivier Awards, and follows the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Songs include Sherry, Walk Like A Man, Oh What a Night and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

An increasing number of West End shows are now playing on a Sunday, with much of the centre of London now open for shopping, eating and entertainment on a Sunday.

Shows in the West End now playing on a Sunday include Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre, Stomp at the Ambassadors Theatre,  Waiting for Godot at the Haymarket Theatre Royal, The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, selected plays at the National Theatre, and dance productions at the Peacock Theatre – including Havana Rakatan from 4 February.

New shows coming to London that will also feature Sunday performances include All The Fun of the Fair – David Essex’s new musical at the Garrick Theatre from 17 April.

More shows open on Sunday

Sunday is the new Saturday as far as West End theatres are concerned, as an increasing number of London shows begin running performances on a Sunday.

With no congestion charge and easier transport and parking, increasing numbers of families are choosing to visit London on a Sunday and take in a show.

Current shows running on a Sunday include War Horse, The Lion King, Stomp, Thriller Live, The Shawshank Redemption and Arturo Brachetti – Change.

On 8 November Hairspray joined the Sunday brigade and started running matinee performances, now with a new cast including comedian Phill Jupitus and pop diva Belinda Carlisle. And West End big-hitter Jersey Boys will also have its first Sunday performance from 17 January 2010.

Discount Tickets on a Sunday

Enjoy the following shows at a discounted rate on a Sunday:

Stomp, Thriller Live, The Shawshank Redemption, Arturo Brachetti – Change and Hairspray.

Save on Sunday Theatre

An increasing number of London shows are now running on a Sunday, allowing theatregoers from London, the UK and overseas to maximise their weekends.

On Broadway most shows run on a Sunday and skip the Monday performance and this trend seems to be catching on in the West End. Even the National Theatre recently announced that they would start Sunday performances from September.

There are also some great discounts on West End theatre on Sundays for Thriller Live, Stomp and La Clique. See below for a run down of shows with Sunday performances and some fabulous offers.

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