Matt Henry to host fundraiser concert for The Actors House in the West End

Exclusive: Matt Henry will host The Actors House Christmas Songbook at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London on 7 December 2026.

The concert will feature Olivier Award-winning performer Beverley Knight, alongside Jess Folley and Oliver Tompsett, with further performers to be announced.

Henry, who won an Olivier Award and stars in The Devil Wears Prada, founded The Actors House in 2025. The event will raise funds for the organisation, which provides safe and affordable accommodation for touring actors and creatives across the UK. Its first property, The Bradford House, has seven bedrooms and has been consistently fully booked.

The concert will celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with 12 acts, featuring musical theatre numbers and festive songs. All proceeds will go towards funding the organisation’s next house.

Henry said: “Touring actors often pay for two homes: their permanent residence and the one they need on tour. Unlike most professionals who travel for work, actors are having to use their living wage to subsidise their accommodation. For performers spending weeks at a time away from home, rising costs can make touring roles unaffordable, and we risk losing a generation of talent before their careers have begun. The Actors House is working to change that.

“This December, I’m delighted to be joined by some of our most recognisable and talented performers for The Actors House Christmas Songbook, which will showcase the magic of theatre and raise awareness of the growing crisis facing our touring community.”

Ian McKellen, an ambassador for The Actors House, said: “The theatre has been at the heart of my career, but we now face a crisis and need urgent support for touring actors to ensure that the joy of live theatre remains accessible to communities across the UK. I am delighted to support The Actors House, which is actively working on a solution to safeguard the future of our touring productions with the creation of safer, more affordable accommodation.”

Knight added: “Our theatre community brings the soul and energy of live performance to audiences across the UK. For performers, touring productions offer an incredible learning opportunity, but we need to better safeguard our actors by improving access to accommodation to reduce the risks associated with living in an unknown location, particularly when leaving the theatre late at night.”

The organisation was established in response to the accommodation challenges faced by performers working away from home. Accommodation allowances can fall short of the cost of a suitable place to stay, making some touring jobs financially unviable, particularly for early-career actors and creatives.

The concert will also provide opportunities for emerging performers and theatre workers, including backing vocalists, musicians and production interns.

Tickets will cost between £30 and £120 and go on sale on Monday 19 October at 10am.