The Stage

Free musical showcase at West End Live

Published Tuesday 3 May 2005 at 15:55 by Jeremy Austin

Excerpts of West End shows Chicago, Mamma Mia! and The Big Life will be performed live and for free in Leicester Square on June 25 and 26 as part of Westminster City Council’s celebration of the entertainment and leisure available within its boundaries.

Entitled West End Live, the event will also feature other musical and dance acts, live broadcasts, arts workshops and interactive exhibitions from some of London’s best known attractions, including the Theatre Museum, Sadler’s Wells and Ronnie Scott’s.

Mish Toszeghi, consultant to the project manager, said if the event was successful it could become an annual celebration. He added: “I don’t see why not. The council has put up a substantial amount of money. We have also gone to local businesses for sponsorship. The bottom line is how willing the council would be to go back to businesses on an annual basis.”

• Patti Smith has announced the line-up for her Meltdown Festival at the South Bank Centre, between June 11-26. Among those appearing are fellow members of the New York rock scene, Television and Velvet Underground member John Cale. Beth Orton, Sinead O’Connor and Kristin Hersh take part in a celebration of poet William Blake that also features Smith. The host will additionally be performing her groundbreaking album Horses, accompanied by its producer Cale. Other guests during the festival include Billy Bragg, Yoko Ono, Steve Earle, Jeff Beck and Antony Hegarty.