Shanay Holmes and her husband Christopher Steward are producing the West End Musical shows. West End Musical Brunch and West End Musical Drive In  were hit by the pandemic limits on social contact but here at London’s Palace Theatre is their celebration of West End musical theatre.  

Shanay introduces three men and two more women headlining stars who will sing and she will open the show with the infectious song from Hairspray, “You Can’t Stop the Beat”.    

Ben Forster star of Thriller, Elf and Phantom of the Opera who was the winner of the BBC Superstar talent show to play Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, thrills with his range in the Lloyd Webber classic, “Music of the Night”. 

Sophie Evans, most recently, Glinda in Wicked, sings the classic number in the show, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and continuing the same wizardly theme, in the theatre where Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is due back, Rachel John,  Angelica in Hamilton will sing “Home” from The Wiz.  Alice Fearn, an acclaimed take-over of Elphaba in Wicked and star of Come From Away sings a pertinent number in times of the pandemic. “They Just Keep Moving the Line” spoke to many of us in the audience and beyond who are hoping that theatres may be able to fully re-open on 21st June.  Her stage presence is absorbing.

Trevor Dion Nicholas who came to London to play the Genie in Aladdin  has great stage presence and with Sophie he sings “Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors.  I didn’t quite get Trevor’s formal jacket and pedal pusher length turn up, tight trousers but hey, it must be fashion!

Everyone’s favourite is the first black Billy Elliot, and take over lead in Everybody’s Talking about Jamie, which has just clocked up its 1000th performance.  Layton Williams charms with “Sex is in the Heel” from Kinky Boots with a fabulous dance number showing off his high energy, suggestive physical talent. 

Another song which is evocative of lockdown and separation is “Waving Through A Window” from Dear Evan Hansen with all the emotion in Ben Forster’s lovely voice. 

Alice Fearn recreates her famous song from Wicked, the iconic “Defying Gravity” to show stopping applause.

Shanay and Rachel together sing one of the most gorgeous songs in this show, Stephen Schwartz’s “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt which returns to the Dominion very soon. This song is very special. 

Closing the first act, the inimitable Layton reinterprets Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” in a truly show stopping, all round song and dance dramatic performance.