Photo Flash: First Look at WEST END LIVE Shows

Stars including Michael Xavier, Beverley Knight, Matt Cardle, Samantha Barks and Pixie Lott will perform as part of 2016's incredible line-up for London's free musical theatre extravaganza, West End LIVE with MasterCard.

Over the weekend of 18 and 19 June, more than 500,000 people are expected to flock to Trafalgar Square for the legendary live festival's 12th year and, with more than 25 top London shows now confirmed to appear, this year's line-up could just be the best ever.

Making their West End LIVE returns are American Idiot, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, The Bodyguard, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Disney's The Lion King, In The Heights, Impossible, Jersey Boys, LES MISERABLES, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Stomp, Sunny Afternoon, Thriller Live and Wicked.

There will also be plenty of West End LIVE debuts over the weekend including this year's MasterCard Best New Musical Olivier Award-winning show Kinky Boots, as well as Breakfast At Tiffany's, Crazy For You, Guys And Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar, Motown The Musical, Murder Ballad, The Secret Garden, Show Boat and The Wedding Singer.

Commenting on the sensational line-up, one of the event's key organisers, Westminster City Council's Cllr Robert Davis MBE DL, said: "West End LIVE is back and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with the crème de la crème of London's musical theatre taking to our stage in Trafalgar Square, live and for free.

"Over the 18 and 19 June, 500,000 people will again visit the area and contribute some £4.5 million to the local economy. I hope that this year's line-up will excite our magnificent fan-base and that, like me, they are looking forward to the curtain going up on what will be another incredible weekend of world-class entertainment, showcasing the magic of the West End."

Nicki Grant, Head of Marketing UK&I at MasterCard said: "West End LIVE is a wonderful event which we're proud to sponsor - it brings the magic of West End theatre to hundreds of thousands of people, and it's all completely free. Plus there'll be some amazing Priceless Surprises for lucky MasterCard holders over the course of the weekend - make sure you follow @MasterCardUK to be in with a chance."

Photo Credit: Roy Tan

To post a comment, you must register and login.