Everybody. Stay. Calm. This is not a drill, West End LIVE is this weekend.
It’s the weekend that sees every theatregoer and theatre aficionado get more excited than usual about the prospect of an early Saturday morning. Over the course of Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June 2022 there’ll be thousands of theatre fans (us amongst them!) flocking to Trafalgar Square to witness the very best of London’s incredible musical talent in a spectacular two-day celebration.
… oh, and did we mention it’s all FREE? Check out the lineup and FAQ’s here.
As every savvy West End LIVE lover knows, there are a few things you’ll want to bear in mind when boogying away in festival frenzy mode, so to help you get the best out of your weekend, we’ve rounded up a few of our top tips for the perfect festival weekend.
Pack the essentials
Sun cream? Check! Water? Check! Battery pack? Check! Umbrella? Check. And the right shoes to move around in and bust some envy-inducing shapes? Ab-so-lute-ly.
When heading off to West End LIVE, make sure you pack all the essentials for a full day out (or two!) and save yourself from having to pop out of the Square and potentially face re-entry queues upon your return.
It’s FREE! But…
… don’t go purse/wallet-less just yet; make a weekend of it and treat yourself to refreshments while you’re there. After all, nobody can bellow Defying Gravity on a dry throat!
Pay us a visit
When there’re so many incredible shows to see, you’ll need to make sure you take a break every so often and hit the shade – and that’s where the tents come in.
Make sure to visit the TKTS tent to pick up your on the day theatre tickets (for those who just can’t get enough) tote bags, t-shirts, and more – we’ll see you there!
Plan ahead
With the planned train strikes it’s useful to make sure you leave enough time to travel to Trafalgar Square. Don’t forget that the tube lines and busses are still running so if you’re looking to book a hotel, maybe you can book it further outside of London and get a tube into central. Take a look at TFL‘s website or use apps like Google Maps and Citymapper to plan your journey. It’s always an incredibly popular event, so don’t risk missing your favourite acts: arrive in plenty of time, limit the size of your bags, make friends when queuing and remain patient – it’ll make it all the sweeter!
Enjoy something new
West End LIVE is the perfect opportunity to delve into something entirely new and unexpected. You’ll get the chance to see all your favourite London musicals, of course, but you can also catch upcoming Theatreland hits, touring shows, special star performances, cabaret, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Don’t limit yourself to what you already know: embrace the variety of the line-up and enjoy something new! Who knows – it could well provide you with valuable “theatrical hipster” knowledge of which tickets to snap up ahead of the curve.
Follow it up with a theatre visit
It’s pretty much impossible to come out of West End LIVE without feeling incredibly inspired, and eager for more.
Luckily for you, this year, you won’t even have to leave Trafalgar Square to pick up your theatre tickets: you can get great on-the-day deals from our TKTS tent and a huge range of tickets from OfficialLondonTheatre.com on your phone!
You can also head over to the TKTS Booth in Leicester Square Gardens for a friendly face and some expert advice.
Follow the signs
Just like the last few years, West End LIVE is a BSL interpreted event – so it’s bonus points if you spot an interpreter dancing grooving along! More accessibility info is available on the event website.
Sharing is caring
We’ll be there over the weekend with exclusive backstage content on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels. Can’t be there? Follow along through us. And if you are there, make sure to use the hashtag #WestEndLIVE.
We’ll see you VERY soon!
Photo Credits: Pamela Raith