It is now officially less than three months until the stagey event of the year! Gaiety’s one-day musical theatre festival—the first of its kind—is coming to Warwickshire on Sunday 30 April 2023. Nestled in the grounds of the beautiful Ragley Hall in Alcester, the festival will be the experience of a lifetime for performing arts fans.
To mark the countdown to the jam-packed festival, producer Mike Wilson hosted a London press launch where we got an exclusive sneak peek…
Always on brand, Gaiety Festival brought the preview to the capital’s Theatre Café: a beautiful hidden gem in the heart of the West End. Endlessly Instagrammable, the musical-themed diner boasts memorabilia of all your favourite productions, from Mary Poppins to Come From Away. The Theatre Café is partnering with Gaiety to bring tons of stagey fun to the festival, including open mic and a themed bar.
As Mike explained, getting the Gaiety Musical Theatre Festival onto the stage has not been easy. Following postponement in 2022, fans missed the chance to see top musical stars such as Lee Mead (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Legally Blonde: The Musical) and Marisha Wallace (Waitress, Hairspray, Dreamgirls). Well, you can breathe a huge sigh of relief as these headliners are on the bill to belt out all your favourites at the 2023 festival.
Joining Lee and Marisha in 45-minute sets will be Kerry Ellis, straight from Anything Goes, as well as Over the Rainbow stars Lauren Samuels and Sophie Evans. Also gracing the main stage is Cassidy Janson, known for Avenue Q, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and of course & Juliet. The original Anne Hathaway performing pop hits in Shakespeare’s Country? Iconic!
What’s more, Britain’s Got Talent alumni Collabro will be treating the audience to a roster of musical hits as part of their farewell shows.
Accompanying the biggest names in showbiz will be the London Musical Theatre Orchestra: the world’s only professional orchestra dedicated to all things musical theatre. This multi-talented ensemble will take famous showtunes to the next level as the sun sets on Alcester.
While bopping along to the high-octane sets, save some energy as there is more fun to be had.
Alongside the jewel in Gaiety’s crown is an acoustic stage. Here, stars including Shona White (Mamma Mia!) will bring chilled vibes to this Sunday festival.
Or if dancing like no one’s watching is more your bag, you will love the Silent Disco tent.
One stage you must check out is the Community Bandstand: the stage to launch musical theatre careers. When tomorrow’s stars are treading the boards in London and New York, you can be smug in the knowledge that you supported them from the start…
If the idea of camping in a muddy field makes you shiver, bask in the fact that this is a one day festival. It may be dedicated to showtunes, but this event has all the usual festival quirks and much more.
You can shop ‘til you drop at the exclusive Theatre Village bursting with merchandise to add to your collection. After refuelling with delicious food and drink, immerse yourself in Theatreland with competitions, photo opportunities, and pop-up performances.
Bringing Broadway and the West End to Warwickshire, the Gaiety Musical Theatre Festival will land at Ragley Hall, Alcester on Sunday 30 April. Tickets range from £50.40 to £112.00 for adults, with alternative ticket types including family, student, and child. You can also book coach travel from London and the West Midlands. For details, please visit https://gaietyfestival.co.uk/.
Words by Tayler Finnegan
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