Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery
On 27th January the AO Arena in Manchester welcomed back The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals. Celebrating 30 years of National Lottery funding for theatre and performing arts across the UK, the event brought together an impressive lineup of West End and touring productions, as well as special guests, offering a night of unforgettable performances. Hosted by the comedic charm that is Jason Manford, the evening featured a series of show-stopping numbers that highlighted the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary musical theatre. The event opened with a ‘Supercalifragalistic’ performance from the current touring cast of Mary Poppins, setting an exhilarating tone for the night.
Other show-stopping performances included a first look at Disney’s Hercules, where Luke Brady gave us a powerful performance of ‘Go the Distance’ before he joined the cast in a joyous rendition of ‘Zero to Hero,’
Georgina Castle graced us all with her stunning vocals as she performed ‘World Burn’ from the smash hit Mean Girls.
The cast of Titanique including the multi-talented Layton Williams gave us a glimpse into the world of jukebox musicals parody of Celine Dion’s hits.
The night also featured a nostalgic performance from Here & Now – The Steps Musical, which had the crowd dancing in their seats to a rendition of ‘Tragedy’ and even though we didn’t quite understand the story, we still enjoyed the performance.
The ever-brilliant Carrie Hope Fletcher wowed us with her vocal range as Calamity Jane. With a ‘whip-cracking’ performance and its classic charm this show brought a timeless quality to the evening’s lineup.
We were also treated to the ever-glamorous delight of the cast of Chicago with ‘All That Jazz’ that left you wanting more.
A standout moment of the evening was the performance by the touring cast of Dear Evan Hansen where the cast led by Ryan Kopel delivered a heartfelt rendition of ‘You Will Be Found,’ a song that has become an anthem for many showcasing the show’s powerful message of connection and understanding
A notably spectacular performance was that of Marisha Wallace singing ‘Maybe This Time’ from Cabaret, the visible emotions she gave off during and after her performance were beautiful, she is definitely one to watch in the West End.
The biggest and most emotional reaction of the night however came from the surprise performance from Vicky McClure’s Our Dementia Choir, accompanied by Michael Ball, singing an awe-inspiring rendition of ‘The Impossible Dream’. The emotional depth and sincerity of the performance meant there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was truly breathtaking to watch. It really is true when they say music speaks to the soul and brings a new life to people.
The curtain came down on a stellar night with a fiery performance from Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell the Musical. The cast’s electrifying rendition of ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’ mixed with ‘Dead Ringer for Love’ was a fitting end to show on what was an extraordinary evening of entertainment.
Throughout the night, Jason Manford’s evident passion for theatre provided a valuable look into how the National Lottery helps to change people’s lives through the art of theatre.
The night was truly a masterclass in musical theatre.
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will air on BBC One, BBC Radio 2, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds in the Spring.
Reviewer: Abigail Pendlebury
Reviewed: 27th January 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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