A host of musical theatre favourites will join inspirational young anti-bullying campaigner Charlie Kristensen at The Actors’ Church in Covent Garden for his fundraising event, #CheerUp Charlie – The Show on 31 October 2021.
Produced by Mark Robert Petty, the gala performance will feature: Lewis Asquith, Lizzie Bea, Nikki Bentley, Daniel Boys, Kieran Brown, Robin Cousins, Maria Coyne, Ferris and Milnes, Adrian Hansel, Jacqueline Hughes, Sophie Isaacs, Melissa Jacques, Alison Jiear, Gemma Knight Jones, Carolyn Maitland, Nadim Naaman, Sara Poyzer, Oliver Savile, Jon Tarcy, Shona White and Jacinta Whyte.
Hosted by Ben Stock and Hilary O’Neil with musical direction by Tom Knowles, the line-up will also include Joseph Fletcher and Natasha Volley from DMD+ (Deaf Men Dancing+ founded by Mark Smith), country crossover duo One Trick Pony, This One’s For You – A Tribute To Elton John (with Dougie Carter, Ben Barrow and Sam Ebenezer), the cast of Rumi: The Musical, mind-reader Matt Daniel-Baker and ventriloquist Max Fulham, along with students from ASA Theatre Arts, London School of Musical Theatre, MX Masterclass and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Announcing the concert which will raise funds for the charities Acting For Others and the National Deaf Children’s Society, Charlie said: “It is an honour to have so many people involved with the show who have supported me from the very start. There were so many times I felt alone even when I was surrounded by people. I now feel anything but and am so lucky that I can now use my voice to keep growing this platform and doing what I love to raise awareness that we are all accepted for who we truly are.
“I may be just one boy with a small voice, but I have a huge tribe behind me, and I will make a difference. This concert will be a celebration of all that I stand for; kindness, bravery and being able to stand true in the face of adversity. So, join me for a night of fun, laughter and music!”
Commenting on his involvement in the show, Petty, the producer of the successful concert series The Crazy Coqs Presents at London’s Brasserie Zédel and The Crazy Coqs and half of songwriting team Anderson and Petty (with New Yorker Barry Anderson) said: “In the last two years I have had the immense pleasure of getting to know Charlie Kristensen (#CheerUpCharlie to his growing tribe of followers) and this little man inspires me every day with his strength and commitment to make a change. He has turned something that was negative and hurtful into a cause that grows stronger every day. Please join us in celebrating his journey and his love of Musical Theatre with his wonderful new West End family of supporters. See you there!”
Charlie Kristensen first hit the headlines in 2019 when his singing teacher Jacqueline (Jax) Hughes appealed to the musical theatre community to send messages of support to the youngster after discovering he was being bullied in school. The industry responded with hundreds of messages of love, support and encouragement for the then nine-year-old boy affectionately known as ‘Little Charlie’.
The 11 year old from Wokingham who now devotes over 100 hours each month to mentoring, campaigning, fundraising and raising awareness on a local, national, and international level recently won a prestigious Diana Award.
His successes have included the release of a star-packed charity single, the development of a musical theatre workshop in partnership with West End actor and singer Nathaniel Morrison and a popular weekly YouTube chat show featuring star guests including Matt Lucas, Kerry Ellis and Luke Bayer.
Angela Thomas
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