Watch Hope Mill Theatre’s online concert celebrating Rodgers + Hammerstein

Hope Mill Theatre has staged an online concert to celebrate the music of Rodgers + Hammerstein.

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING features a host of West End stars singing songs by the legendary songwriting duo Rodgers + Hammerstein.

With theatres across the UK currently closed, the concert streamed online on Sunday 26th April at 7pm via YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. The concert will be free to watch but Hope Mill Theatre is asking for donations to support its work.

It follows the venue being forced to cancel its first in-house production of the year, the UK theatrical premiere of the Broadway version of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

In honour of the cancellation of this production, Hope Mill Theatre’s virtual concert will feature songs from the show alongside Rodgers + Hammerstein’s other works such as Oklahoma, Carousel and South Pacific.

Appearing on the line up will be West End stars Maria Friedman (Ragtime, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) Louise Dearman (Wicked, Sideshow) and Sophie-Louise Dann (Lend Me A Tenor, Bend it Like Beckham)

Joining them will be cast members from the cancelled production of Cinderella – Matthew Blaker, Julie Yammanee and Cinderella herself, Georgie Buckland – together with performers from past Hope Mill Theatre productions – Joel-Harper Jackson (Little Women), Laura Harrison (Parade) and Simbi Akande (Putting It Together) – as well as Any Dream Will Do contestant Keith Jack.

Alongside the concert, Hope Mill Theatre will launch a crowdfunder on the evening which will be used to raise money to help the venue to reopen when the time comes, and to get back on its feet.

Artistic Director, Joseph Houston, said: “It has been important for us as a venue to stay engaged with our wonderful and loyal audiences and supporters. Since closing we have had so much love and support from individuals and it has been the catalyst for us to continue to do what we know best and produce theatre, just in a very different way.

“We were so upset that we had to cancel our production of Cinderella as we had lined up the most incredible cast but we are thrilled that finally some of these talented performers will have the chance to be seen.”

Executive Director, William Whelton, added: “Rodgers + Hammerstein are credited as the creators of musical theatre as we know it and we could think of no other way of celebrating theatre during these times than to host a concert dedicated to them.”