From Waterloo to the West End: How Eurovision has shaped our stages

Eurovision is inherently musical theatre.

We’re expecting earworm songs, spectacular staging, brilliant costumes, and top-notch vocals from competitors. So it seems only fitting that this year’s UK representatives, Remember Monday, are a group of musical theatre performers we’ve been lucky enough to welcome to our West End stages!

A variety of stage stars have represented the UK in the annual competition, while for others, it was Eurovision that gave them the taste of theatricality and encouraged them to dip a toe into stage performance. Even our hosts and commentators over the years have all appeared on stage: the King of Eurovision himself, Graham Norton, performed in a West End revival of La Cage Aux Folles, Hannah Waddingham has picked up a WhatsOnStage Award, and Mel Giedroyc will return to Starter for Ten later this year.

No wonder Will Ferrell is seizing the opportunity to turn his Eurovision screenplay, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, into a stage musical.

Ahead of this year’s competition in Basel this Saturday, we’re looking at a brief history of Eurovision and the West End!

ABBA – 1974

We won’t insult you, our readers, by explaining the significance of ABBA’s win at Eurovision in 1974. The Sweden representatives debuted “Waterloo” and skyrocketed their global success after performing in Brighton. Now, not only are their songs well-adored all around the world, but they underpin mega-musical Mamma Mia!, which is celebrating 26 years in the West End and is about to go again on Broadway!

Coincidentally, representing the UK that same year was Grease’s Olivia Newton-John, who placed fourth.

Bucks Fizz – 1981

The group won for the UK with their hit “Making Your Mind Up” at the start of the 80s. Since then, a number of them have appeared in theatre shows, like Bobby G in Jesus Christ Superstar, Cheryl Baker in Footloose, and Jay Aston, who is a pantomime regular.

Céline Dion – 1988

While the best-selling, once-in-a-lifetime vocalist didn’t compete on behalf of the UK, she did win for Switzerland. Her performance of “Ne partez pas sans moi” catapulted her to fame, so much so that there’s an Olivier Award-winning Titanic parody-musical playing in the West End in her honour.

Samantha Womack – 1991

To some, Womack is best known as Ronnie Mitchell from EastEnders, to others, she’s the teen popstar who placed joint-tenth in Eurovision with “A Message to Your Heart”, and to us, she’s Morticia Addams. Click click. As well as The Addams Family, Womack has also played Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, the White Witch in the UK tour and West End stagings of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Rachel in The Girl on the Train.

Michael Ball – 1992

By the time he took to Eurovision in Malmö, Ball was already well established, having originated the role of Marius in Les Misérables and climbing the charts with his rendition of “Love Changes Everything” from Love Never Dies. Since finishing second in the contest, the WhatsOnStage Award winner has enjoyed a fantastic theatre and broadcasting career, appearing in hit shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, Sweeney Todd and many more.

Sonia – 1993

The Liverpudlian “Better the Devil You Know” singer competed in Ireland and just like Ball, finished as runner-up! She recently returned to the theatre in Craig Revel Horwood’s new musical, Now! That’s What I Call a Musical as a special guest, having also played Sandy in Grease.

Frances Ruffelle – 1994

For the fourth consecutive year, our Eurovision entry was a theatre star. Ball’s Les Misérables co-star Ruffelle finished tenth with “Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free)”. We have the Tony Award winner to thank for many landmark performances, having appeared in shows including Starlight Express, Chicago, Piaf, The Wild Party, and more.

Jade Ewen – 2009

Award-winning theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber made his Eurovision debut in 2009, penning “It’s My Time” with Diane Warren. He performed the tune on the piano live with Jade Ewen, who, after placing fifth with 173 points, went on to join girl group The Sugababes. It wasn’t too long after that Ewen made her theatrical debut in Porgy and Bess, before playing Vanessa in In The Heights and leading the West End premiere of Disney’s Aladdin as Princess Jasmine.

Blue – 2011

For the first time ever, in 2011, the BBC decided the Eurovision entry internally. They landed on British pop boy band Blue, who came tenth with 100 points. Members Duncan James and Antony Costa have both made a name for themselves in theatre, with James performing in Legally Blonde and Chicago, and Costa recently overseeing the Nikos’ Taverna in Mamma Mia! The Party.

Lucie Jones – 2017

WhatsOnStage Award winner Lucie Jones had already appeared in such titles as We Will Rock You, Les Misérables, Legally Blonde, Rent, Ghost, and more, becoming a firm favourite in the musical theatre sphere. No stranger to TV talent shows, the former X Factor contestant won Eurovision: You Decide and went on to represent the UK in Kyiv with “Never Give Up On You,” where she finished 15th. Since then, she’s played iconic roles including Jenna Hutcherson, Elphaba Thropp, and Fantine. Want to see her take on another much-loved Jenna? You’ll have to head to Manchester for the new musical 13 Going On 30.

SuRie – 2018

One performer who is no stranger to the unpredictability of live entertainment is SuRie. During her performance of “Storm” in Lisbon, she experienced a stage invasion by protestors – but in true theatre fashion, the show did indeed go on! She placed ninth. Recently, SuRie led a revival of Annie Get Your Gun and made her RSC songwriting debut with Much Ado About Nothing.

Remember Monday – 2025

“What the Hell Just Happened?” ask the country trio who only last year packed in their careers as theatre performers and the deputy head of a theatre school to try a hand at popstardom – now, they’re representing the UK in Basel. Between them, their stage credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Matilda, Six, Cinderella, Les Misérables and more – so we’re expecting plenty of theatrical treats!

The Eurovision Song Contest final will take place on 17 May 2025 in Basel.