West End Live 2014

Wondering What to See this June?

by Joshua Neil

London is renowned for its culture: places like the West End and South Bank are synonymous with the cool, the classy, the pretentious. People come to London from around the world, all to see the incredible shows on offer, from theatre to opera to the unrivalled grandeur and beauty of its galleries, museums and displays. London offers an experience almost no other city can offer, with wonders and curiosities to satisfy even the most jaded of art snobs.

West End Live 2014

Even so, getting the required level of culture in the capital can be expensive- beyond the free galleries that litter the place, most shows and events can cost quite a bit. That’s why, for all those budding savers out there, Westminster City Council and the Society for London Theatre present West End Live, now in its tenth year. Taking place in Trafalgar Square between the 21st and 22nd of June, the entire event is free, though some of the smaller showcases will be ticketed.

West End Live is an attempt to share some of the great culture of London with its inhabitants- those shows, exhibits and companies that you might not otherwise have seen. Beyond that- this might shock you- the event is aimed at promoting the West End and some of the musicals that take place there, by giving everyone a little taste of what they’ve been missing.

What’s On?

A few shows among the fantastic roster include such staples as Billy Elliot, The Bodyguard, The Lion King, and Les Miserables- but that is only a select few of a universally recognised bunch. Each shows runs for around fifteen minutes each, with each day running between 11am and 6pm– meaning that both days will be packed with an enormous variety of musical numbers, great acting, and interesting moments, with something to suit everyone.

But that’s not all that’s happening- for the Opera fans out there, there will be performances by the Royal Opera House Chorus, as well as the English National Opera; as well as the best shows around today, this year West End Live will run a new feature known as ’10 from 10’, showcasing the very best performances and musicals from the last decade, including such former West End shows as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Chicago- so even if your favourite show isn’t currently running in the West End, there might still be a chance to see it again. Beyond all this, there will be a marquee for the Theatre’s Trust, with activities to take part in and facts about theatre to learn, and a whole host of other events and stalls dotted around including Forbidden Planet, Ripley’s Believe it or Not and the Science Museum, so that even those with only a passing interest in the theatre will be entertained.

Whatever your interests- West End theatre, the opera, or simple curiosities and exhibitions- West End Live 2014 delivers enough quality content to keep anyone entertained. Completely free and filled with spectacle, West End Live is a great day out for people of any interest.

For more updates on West End Live, follow their Twitter @westendlive.

Free Ice-cream

Fancy some Free ice-cream (who doesn’t?)?? Then just head down to MasterCard’s tent.

What: West End Live 2014
When: 21st June, 11am – 6pm and 22nd June, noon – 6pm
Where: Trafalgar Square

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For more great theatre events, take a look at our post about Cheap Theatre in London.