Every year West End LIVE takes our breath away. So much quality performance in just one weekend is remarkable. Theatre fans clearly agree as Trafalgar Square was packed with hand-waving, foot-tapping, show tune-singing festival-goers eager to be entertained by the finest shows in the world.
The free festival of entertainment in the capital is in its 9th year of bringing London’s hit shows to an open air stage. Regular crowd favourites including Les Misérables, The Phantom Of The Opera and Mamma Mia! were back, while crowds were also offered the first chance to hear music from Tim Rice’s new show From Here To Eternity and tried to set a new world record for air guitar playing with Rock Of Ages.
Behind the stage, where few prying eyes got to peek, was a bizarre sight, where dinosaurs strolled around barely distracted by giant blue rabbits, where eye wincing warm up stretches took place to the sound of clashing vocal exercises and where old friends and new bumped into each other as shows came and went.
Few people had as complete access to the event as our own photographer Pamela Raith, whose fabulous photos help record an incredible weekend.
Images:
Let It Be performs at West End LIVE 2013
The cast of Once backstage at West End LIVE 2013
Les Miserables performs at West End LIVE 2013
Oliver Tompsett leads the cast of We Will Rock You at West End LIVE 2013
The cast of We Will Rock You interviewed backstage at West End LIVE 2013
Jersey Boys performs at West End LIVE 2013
Sir Tim Rice introduces From Here To Eternity on stage at West End LIVE 2013
Trafalgar Square packed for West End LIVE 2013
West End LIVE 2013 crowds
The cast of Dirty Dancing interviewed backstage at West End LIVE 2013
A Chorus Line performs at West End LIVE 2013
The cast of Rock Of Ages backstage at West End LIVE 2013
Matilda The Musical performs at West End LIVE 2013
Let It Be performs at West End LIVE 2013
Matthew Morrison watches West End LIVE 2013
Julian Bird interviews Matthew Morrison at West End LIVE 2013
The West End LIVE 2013 audience
Dinosaur Zoo at West End LIVE 2013
A backstage warm up at West End LIVE 2013
Jersey Boys performs at West End LIVE 2013