EXCLUSIVE: West End concert marks 40th anniversary of Sondheim's Little Night Music

Stephen Sondheim classic A Little Night Music will receive a one-off concert staging in the West End next year to mark its 40th anniversary.

The concert, on 26 January 2015, will be held at the Palace Theatre and feature Anne Reid as Madame Armfeldt, Janie Dee as Desiree Armfeldt, David Birrell as Fredrik Egerman, Joanna Riding as Countess Charlotte and Simon Bailey as Count Carl-Magnus.

Billed as a "spectacular concert performance", the evening will be directed by Alastair Knights (Putting It Together, The Elaine Paige Show) and choreographed by WhatsOnStage Award-winner Andrew Wright (Singin' in the Rain, Guys and Dolls).

Also in the cast are West End regulars Anna O'Byrne (Anne Egerman), Fra Fee (Henrik Egerman), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Petra), Bibi Jay (Fredrika Egerman), Joe Vetch (Frid), Nadim Naaman (Mr Erlanson), Scott Garnham (Mr Lindquist), Laura Tebbutt (Mrs Nordstrom), Emma Harrold (Mrs Anderssen) and Jenna Boyd (Mrs Segstrom).

Inspired by Ingmar Bergman's film Smile Of A Summer Night, the action of A Little Night Music takes place in a weekend country house in turn-of-the-century Sweden.

The party consists of middle-aged Fredrik Egerman, his teenage trophy wife Anne, his son Henrik, the intriguing and beautiful actress Desiree Armfeldt, her mother Madame Armfeldt, the ferociously jealous Count Carl-Magnus, and his long-suffering wife Charlotte.

The show, which features music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, premiered on Broadway in 1973 and was first seen in the West End in 1975. The score includes "Every Day a Little Death", "Weekend in the Country" and the iconic "Send in the Clowns".

The concert performance will feature a 25-piece orchestra under the musical direction of Alex Parker (The Pajama Game, Stephen Ward), who also produces. Tickets are available through the Nimax website priced at £55, £45, £35, £30 and £20.