West End Live 2013
by Oliver Mitford on Wednesday 5 June 2013, 11:13 am in West End News & Gossip
West End Live returns to Trafalgar Square for a weekend of theatre magic!
The musical theatre extravaganza West End LIVE is officially set to return to Trafalgar square in June, this time for two days from the 22 -23 June. The annual festival organised by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is the largest event of its kind in the UK and now, in its ninth year, just keeps getting bigger and better while still being absolutely free to attend!
The weekend of free entertainment plays host to some of London’s top theatre productions and well-known performing stars – all singing and dancing live in the heart of London’s theatreland. West End favourites such as Billy Elliot, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, We Will Rock You, Wicked and Top Hat will all be showcasing some of their well-known numbers. Joining these more established musicals in the spotlight are West End newcomers such as The Bodyguard, A Chorus Line, The Color Purple, Dirty Dancing, From Here to Eternity, The Golden Voice, High Society, Let It Be, Merrily We Roll Along, Once and The Sound of Music.
Last year’s West End LIVE saw more than half a million people descend on Trafalgar Square to soak up the smorgasbord of live, world-class performances and this year’s event will be even bigger! London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “West End Live brings the roar of the greasepaint to the heart of the capital and all for free. From curtain up to the encore, London Theatreland is unbeatable and this is a fabulous way to sample some of the most exciting shows to be seen anywhere in the world.”
This was added to by Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, when he stated, “Theatre is one of the capital’s greatest draws, with an international reputation for offering world-class entertainment, and West End Live is a chance to showcase the quality and range of shows the London stage has to offer.”
The line-up of shows for this year’s West End LIVE will give you more than a taste of what London’s West End Theatre has to offer, so get down to Trafalgar Square on Saturday 22 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 23 June 2013, 12pm-6pm. But, remember, the festival is free and is expected to attract huge crowds – so get there in plenty of time to secure a good spot in the crowd.
For more information and the full list of shows performing, visit www.westendlive.co.uk