Theatre News

Galas: Les Mis Live in Delfont Room, Ball & Groff

| London's West End |

21 September 2010

Not content with the myriad celebrations for Les Miserables’ 25th birthday taking place, the cast of the West End’s longest-running musical are going one further next month. After their Saturday evening performance on 30 October 2010, they’ll be hot-footing across to the Prince of Wales Theatre for a one-off evening as cabaret, held in aid of Aids relief charity TheatreMAD and presented as part of the LIVE IN THE DELFONT ROOM series of cabarets, sponsored by Whatsonstage.com.

Also newly added to the LIVE IN THE DELFONT ROOM schedule is Alison Jiear, one of the most popular artist on the London cabaret circuit. Nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for best actress in a musical in 2004 for her role in Jerry Springer: The Opera, Jiear’s otherl West End musicals including The Hot Mikado and Grease, and she’s just been featured in the world premiere of Shoes at Sadler’s Wells. Jiear will perform her LIVE IN THE DELFONT ROOM cabaret on Saturday 27 November 2010.

For both concert performances, doors open at 10.30pm with performances commencing at 11pm. TO BOOK TICKETS FOR LIVE IN THE DELFONT ROOM, CALL 0844 482 5111 or VISIT THE PRINCE OF WALES WEBSITE.

As part of the Whatsonstage.com media partnership, members of the Whatsonstage.com Theatre Club can take advantage of a special value-added package for all concerts: a signed poster of the evening’s star plus two free drinks to enjoy before or during the performance!! CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS!

Separate from the LIVE IN THE DELFONT ROOM announcement, Michael Ball will perform a one night concert in the main auditorium at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Sunday 10 October 2010. The multi-platinum recording artist, TV and radio presenter and Olivier and Whatsonstage.com Award winner will give the concert in aid of The Shooting Stars Children’s Hospice, which provides care for children with life-limiting illnesses in West London and North Surrey. The evening with feature a number of musical theatre stars in addition to the Hairspray star himself.

New Wimbledon Theatre have announced a stellar line-up for the forthcoming charity gala A Centennial Celebration, which will feature Catherine Tate as her potty-mouthed character, Joannie “Nan” Taylor. The gala commemorates the venue’s 100th birthday this Sunday 26 September 2010.

The show’s full line-up includes master of ceremonies Shane Richie alongside comedy from Alistair McGowan, Barry Cryer, Bobby Davro, Joe Pasquale and Paul Zerdin as well as Tate; music from Faryl Smith, Four Poofs and a Piano, Gareth Gates, Ruth Lorenzo and The Unconventionals; dance performances by Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and Britain’s Got Talent finalists Stavros Flatley; music hall numbers from Jan Hunt and Anita Harris; appearances by June Whitfield, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford; and celebrations of Wimbledon’s own world premiere musicals Half a Sixpence and Oliver! in which the creator of Fagin, Ron Moody will perform “Reviewing the Situation” once again.

Performers are accompanied by a 12-piece orchestra conducted by Mike Dixon and the Laine Theatre Arts Dancers. The event is directed by Kevin Bishop, who has previously directed several Royal Variety Performances, BAFTA ceremonies and high-profile comedy events. All profits from A Centennial Celebration will be split between two charities: the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund (EABF) and the Wimbledon Civic Theatre Trust (WCTT).

Another star-studded line-up has been announced for A Very Musical Evening, which also takes place this Sunday 26 September 2010. Hosted by Aled Jones at Wilton’s Music Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, the event will include performances by Glee, Spring Awakening and now Deathtrap star Jonathan Groff; pop star Gareth Gates, who is currently appearing as Marius in the 25th-anniversary production of Les Miserables, now at the Barbican; twice Olivier and Whatsonstage.com Award-nominated Hannah Waddingham, just seen in Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre; and Mary Poppins songwriting partnership Stiles and Drew.

The evening will also include a “word auction”, where Stiles and Drewe will create a song during the interval based on words provided by the audience. The event is being held in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and related diseases by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals.

The New Wimbledon is not the only London theatre reaching a major birthday soon, with the Apollo Victoria celebrating its 80th birthday with a gala performance featuring the cast of current tenants Wicked and a very special reunion of performers from Starlight Express which called the Apollo Victoria home from 27 March 1984 for 7,406 performances.

Being produced by Wicked’s UK associate director, Petra Siniawski and UK dance supervisor, Adam Murray, the gala performance will be a showcase of songs which have been performed on the theatre’s stage over its 80 years, with all the profits from ticket sales being donated to Cancer Research UK. There will also be a raffle in support of the Entertainment Artiste’s Benevolent Fund.

The show will feature performances by Wicked cast members past and present, including Rachel Tucker and Oliver Tompsett as well as the cast of Jersey Boys, and Sharon D Clarke performing songs by artists from the venue’s past, including the Rolling Stones, The Supremes and Aretha Franklin. There will be a host of reunions of original cast and creative teams from the theatre’s past musicals, including Saturday Night Fever, Movin’ Out and Bombay Dreams.

The audience also looks set to be a star studded affair with a host special guests, who all have close connections to the theatre, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Arlene Phillips and Jennifer Saunders. The gala performance will be held on Sunday 10 October 2010.

Finally in gala news, Hollywood actor and artistic director of the Old Vic theatre, Kevin Spacey will spend an evening in conversation with author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg at London’s Criterion Theatre on Sunday 3 October 2010 for a one off Audience With event to support Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Audience members will also be given the chance to ask Spacey questions during the event, which is hosted by the charity’s chairman of fundraising, Alastair Campbell and literary agent and leukaemia survivor, Ed Victor. An Academy Award winning actor, Spacey recently announced that he will play Richard III in the final instalment of the Old Vic’s Bridge Project, directed by Sam Mendes. He has been artistic director of the Old Vic since 2003.