West End stars Joanna Riding and Michael Xavier will take to the stage of the Queen’s theatre next year for a special concert in aid of the Philippines Typhoon Appeal.
Entitled You’ll Never Walk Alone, the one-night-only concert will take place on 2 March, with proceeds going directly to the Disasters Emergency Committee.
Star of Stephen Ward and former Olivier Award winner Riding and double Olivier Award nominee Xavier, who are both set to appear in the West End transfer of The Pajama Game in 2014, will be joined by fellow Olivier Award nominee Hannah Waddingham, who gained recognition at this year’s awards for her performance in Trevor Nunn’s production of Kiss Me, Kate.
Also in the line-up are Filipino-born singer and The Voice quarter finalist Joseph Apostol, Filipino-born classical pianist Emmanuel Vass and musical theatre actor Hugh Maynard, who will appear in the forthcoming revival of Miss Saigon next May.
Miss Saigon producer Cameron Mackintosh, whose long-running hit musical Les Misérables resides at the Queen’s theatre, spoke about his commitment to the region that was struck by Typhoon Haiyan last month, saying: “The Philippines have been a special part of my life ever since Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and I first went there 25 years ago to cast the original production of Miss Saigon. As well as being an exceptionally talented nation, the people we have met are also warm, generous and good-hearted human beings who have become our friends the world over.”
The evening of music and comedy, which will feature an ensemble of Filipino performers and an onstage band, will help raise money for emergency shelter, clean water and food as well as helping the 14 million people whose lives were torn apart by the natural disaster to rebuild their lives.
Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of Disasters Emergency Committee, an organisation that brings together 14 of the UK’s leading aid charities to raise fund for those in need, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support for our Philippines Typhoon Appeal but even in that context the gala performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone promises to be a real highlight.”