This year’s Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium saw the West End’s Dame Edna make a surprise appearance, and the casts of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Hill’s I Can’t Sing! – The X Factor Musical and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Stephen Ward perform.
The annual Royal Variety Performance in aid of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund was held this Monday 25 November 2013 at the London Palladium attended by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Hosted by comedian and actor John Bishop, the show saw Dame Edna, who is currently performing at the Palladium in Eat, Pray, Laugh! Barry Humphries’ Farewell Tour, surprised the Royal guests by appearing in the Royal Box at the start of the show. She also did an onstage set.
West End theatre casts that performed during the night included new musical I Can’t Sing! The X-Factor Musical, which opens at the London Palladium on 27 February 2014. Harry Hill, the show’s writer, introduced a musical segment from the show, with Nigel Harman as Simon Cowell being lowered God-like down on to the stage, and the show’s star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Chenice, proving that she can definitely sing!
The Royal Variety Performance also included a number from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new show at the Aldwych Theatre, Stephen Ward, featuring Alexander Hanson and Charlotte Spencer. The segment was introduced by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Also the cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, including Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka, did a set from the show that is currently running at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Other artists who performed on the show included Strictly Come Dancing champion Flavia Cacace and the cast of Dance ‘Til Dawn, Britain’s Got Talent winners Attraction, Mary J. Blige, Gary Barlow, Jessie J, Rizzle Kicks, Olly Murs, Robbie Williams, John Newman, Caro Emerald, Chas & Dave, Bryn Terfel, Gareth Malone with his new choir Voices and Torvill & Dean.
Comedy came from Jason Byrne, Hal Cruttenden, Jimmy Carr and Seann Walsh.
The event will be screened on ITV1 at 7.30pm on Monday 9 December 2013.
LINKS
Book tickets to Barry Humphries’ Farewell Tour at the London Palladium
Book tickets to Stephen Ward at the Aldwych Theatre
Book tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Book tickets to I Can’t Sing! The X-Factor Musical at the London Palladium
VIDEO
Watch a sneak preview of the Royal Variety Performance including Dame Edna
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StAJCu19C88
What was that little tag-like thing at the top of Charlotte Spencer’s hairline? It was very distracting. I thought it might be a part of her wig. Anyway, besides that, they did a lovely job.