Playing Our Part The West End sings for Target Ovarian Cancer
I’ve been to a number of musical theatre cabaret/concert events in my time which have been held in order to benefit cancer charities. Those talented performers who sing and dance on the stages of the West End may love to entertain, but they also love to help a good cause, and contributing their time and talent to the fight against this deadly disease and the suffering it inflicts is an act which never gets old in a show which must go on.
Next month, a star-studded collection of some of the West End’s best and brightest are coming together for a one-night-only performance which will not only raise the roof, but also a bundle of money for one of the UK’s cancer charity organisations. Playing Our Part – The West End sings for Target Ovarian Cancer calls in male and female stars from some of the biggest shows in the West End to display their talents in this special event, which takes place at Cadogan Hall in May. This beautiful venue is located in the heart of the Chelsea borough of London and hosts hundreds of events within its walls every year. On the evening of Sunday 18th May 2014 it will hand the stage over to Playing Our Part and its impressive line-up of West End stars.
The charity concert is produced and directed by Nadim Naaman, who will also perform alongside his fellow cast members on the night. Naaman has appeared in the West End in such shows as The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, and most recently, One Man, Two Guvnors, and his other theatre credits include Chess at the Union Theatre and Titanic at the Southwark Playhouse. He hosted his own cabaret at the Pheasantry on 30th March 2014 to showcase a selection of his self-penned material, including songs which featured on his debut solo album, We All Want The Same, which was released in 2013.
He has gathered together a wonderful cast for this event, which features a number of West End leading men and ladies. Among the men lending their vocal talents to the line-up are Simon Bailey (I Can’t Sing!, The Phantom of the Opera, Parade), Killian Donnelly (The Commitments, Billy Elliot, Les Miserables), Christopher Howell (Stephen Ward, Wicked, Betty Blue Eyes), Tim Morgan (The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, The Lord of the Rings), Geronimo Rauch (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar) and Jeremy Secomb (The Phantom of the Opera, Lend Me a Tenor, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert), while female support comes from the West End beauties Gillian Budd (One Man, Two Guvnors, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Les Miserables), Wendy Ferguson (Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Oliver!), Celia Graham (The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, West Side Story), Siubhan Harrison (From Here To Eternity, Grease, We Will Rock You), Laura Pitt-Pulford (The Light Princess, Sunset Boulevard, A Little Night Music) and Shona White (Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Rocky Horror Show). American actress Sarah Galbraith was originally due to perform on the night, but recently pulled out due to landing a role in an upcoming touring production. Her place in the line-up will now be filled by Olivia Brereton, who is currently appearing as the Alternate Christine in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera.
The cast will be accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Alex Parker, whose credits include Stephen Ward, Putting It Together and A Little Night Music.
Playing Our Part is being held in aid of Target Ovarian Cancer, the national charity for ovarian cancer. 7000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and Target Ovarian Cancer supports those suffering from the disease, as well as working to find new treatments and improve early diagnosis. All proceeds from the night will go to the charity, and through ticket sales and donations, it has already raised over £20,000 which is a fantastic achievement. A sell-out event can double that amount though.
Playing Our Part – West End Stars sing for Target Ovarian Cancer is the latest in a long line of musical theatre-based events created for the benefit of charitable organisations. The concert event offers a night of unparalleled entertainment courtesy of some of the best and brightest stars of the West End, which comes hand-in-hand with the chance to support a very worthy cause There are so many good reasons to see such talented individuals as those taking part in Playing Our Part perform live on stage, but no better one than to help raise funds for the fight against cancer?. Cast or audience, everyone can play their part.
By Julie Robinson (@missjulie25)
Playing Our Part – The West End sings for Target Ovarian Cancer takes place at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 18th May 2014
Tuesday 8th April 2014
