Theatre News

Stars including Hannah Waddingham and Michael Xavier star in one-off concert for the Philippines

The show, entitled ”You’ll Never Walk Alone”, will play at the Queen’s Theatre on 2 March 2014 in aid of the Philippines Typhoon Appeal

West End performers including Hannah Waddingham, Julie Atherton, Michael Xavier and Joanna Riding will star in a one-off concert called You'll Never Walk Alone, in aid of the Philippines Typhoon Appeal, at the Queen's Theatre on 2 March 2014.

The show, produced by Paul Spicer and Matt Firth for Stage Acts Productions, will be an "uplifting reminder of the importance of collaboration and the fact that theatre really can make a difference", and will feature an ensemble of Filipino performers and an onstage band.

Casting so far includes Julie Atherton (Avenue Q, The Last 5 Years), Joanna Riding (Stephen Ward, The Pajama Game), Hannah Waddingham (Kiss Me Kate, Spamalot), Filipino born singer and quarter finalist on BBC's The Voice Joseph Apostol, Michael Xavier (The Sound of Music, The Pajama Game) and Filipino born classical pianist Emmanuel Vass, with more names to be announced in the new year.

The event has been instigated by the UK based theatre Filipino community, many of whom moved to the United Kingdom in the 1990’s to take part in the original production of Cameron Mackintosh's Miss Saigon.

Cameron Mackintosh said: “The Philippines have been a special part of my life ever since Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and I first went there 25 years ago to cast the original production of Miss Saigon. The recent terrible natural disaster there has affected so many people and along with the international aid, I am only too happy to offer the use of the Queen’s Theatre for a fundraising performance led by stars of the Philippines and the West End to help gather as much money as possible for those in desperate need.”

Tickets for the concert, proceeds of which will go directly to the Disasters Emergency Committee, are on sale now.