Theatre News

Galas: Night for Jennifer, Kindly Celebration & More

West End gala concert A Night for Jennifer is being held at the Lyric theatre on Monday 31 October 2011 in aid of Jennifer, a support organisation for widowers and their children.

The evening, hosted by Big Brother’s Big Mouth‘s Tom Allen, will feature performances from West End stars including Sabrina Aloueche (Les Miserable), Gina Beck (Phantom of the Opera), Newley Aucutt (Priscilla), Joseph Connor (Wicked), Chloe Hart (Hairspray), Jeremy Legat (Wicked), Stephen Oliver-Webb (Lend Me A Tenor), Sophia Ragavelas (Les Miserables), Kayleigh Stephenson (We Will Rock You), Zee Asha (Taboo) and Nathan Taylor (Les Miserables).

The Jennifer Trust was founded by father and son James and Graham Edgington following the death of mother and wife Jennifer in 1985. Graham was left as a single parent of a 16 month old baby whilst grieving and working full time. The pair appeared on the 2010 series of Britain’s Got Talent, making it through to the live semi-finals. Jennifer hopes to support widowed fathers and the children affected by losing their mother.

The line-up for the evening will also include pop acts AJ, Celebrating the Carpenters, Vanity, singer/songwriter Chris Passey’s songs being performed by Chloe Hart and Nadine Cox, Access All Arias (formed of Sarah Eyden, Sarah Ryan and West End stalwart Helen Hobson), new band WOMAN (We Will Rock You alumni Mazz Murray, Gina Murray and Emma Kershaw), newcomers Danny Lane and Charlotte Payne and Sister Mary McArthur.

Tickets for the evening are available from Nimax Theatres or in person at the Lyric Theatre.

A Night for Jennifer is produced by Chris Macklin with musical direction by Garry Jerry. It is directed by Dawn Kalani Cowle.


A Stage Kindly, producers of seven new musicals in just over three years, will present Gala – A Musical Celebration, a one-night showcase of new work on Sunday 9 October 2011 at Greenwich Theatre.

Featuring highlights from their back catalogue and starring a host of new talent plus special guests the Gala is a celebration of A Stage Kindly and the work founders Giles Howe and Katy Lipson‘s do to support British and international writers.

The event will also mark the launch of the Musical Song Book, a collaboration between A Stage Kindly and Stage Scripts Ltd which it is hoped will act as an online source of fresh material from new shows for singers to use in auditions, classes and performances.

Tickets for Gala – A Musical Celebration are available from Greenwich Theatre.


Radio host Terry Wogan will bring his popular Radio 2 show to the Savoy Theatre for one night only on 30 October 2011, helping raise money for this year’s BBC Children in Need.

The charity, which aims at helping children in the UK enjoy a safe, happy and secure childhood and give them the chance to reach their full potential, held their first ever appeal on Christmas day 1927 and have been building on the success ever since.

Gary Barlow, Joss Stone, Lee Mead and Katie Melua are just some of the well-known names on the line-up for this one-off live show.

Tickets are available from Ambassador Tickets with VIP champagne receptions and banquet lunches also available to guests. An auction will also be held in aid of BBC Children in Need.


Finally in other gala news:

  • Inclusive theatre group Chickenshed will hold their annual gala performance at the Savoy Theatre on 13 November 2011 to help raise funds for their youth theatre workshops, education courses, community outreach projects and a network of satellite ‘Sheds’ across the country (and two in Russia). Maureen Lipman will also speak at the event. Tickets are available from Ambassador Tickets.
  • The Lord Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, will hold a charity comedy night on 18 September 2011 at the Savoy Theatre. Special guests will include Jo Brand, Jenny Eclair and Jon Culshaw, all raising money to help give young people “a sporting chance”. Tickets are available from Ambassador Tickets.
  • Wilton’s Music Hall, the oldest surviving grand music hall of its kind, will hold a tea and cakes afternoon on 25 September 2011, hosted by East Ender Barbara Windsor. Theatregoers will be given the chance to explore Wilton’s, along with vintage music, magic from Katherine Rhodes, high tea and a cake competition judged by baker Lily Vanilli. Funds raised will be put towards Wilton’s capital campaign to secure the fabric and future of the historic building.
  • – Katherine Graham