West End Bares 2015 – Graham Norton to host, Beverley Knight among artists appearing

Graham Norton hosts TheatreMAD’s West End Bares 2015 ‘Take Off’ at Cafe De Paris on 20 September

TheatreMAD (Make A Difference Trust) has revealed that Graham Norton will host West End Bares 2015 ‘Take Off’ at the Café De Paris on Sunday 20 September 2015 at 9.30pm and midnight.

Norton will be joined by platinum-selling artist and West End star of Memphis and The Bodyguard Beverley Knight, Ru Paul’s Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio, comedian Joe Lycett, Strictly Come Dancing stars Robin Windsor and Lisa Riley, West End sensation Velma Celli and The Supreme Fabulettes, with music by Emmy Award-winning composer and lyricist Lance Horne alongside Andrew Hayden Smith, Harriet Thorpe and TOWIE’s Charlie King, as well as the casts of many West End shows.

Now in its sixth year, this annual event combines the naughtiness of burlesque along with the razzle dazzle of the West End, featuring the hottest performers currently appearing in the capitol. The evening is based on the original concept Broadway Bares by legendary Broadway and West End director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Jerry Mitchell, Broadway Bares creator and executive producer/director of Kinky Boots said: “This is the sixth incarnation of West End Bares and it’s growing and growing and growing. I can’t wait, I’m so excited – there’s nothing hotter than a dancer stripping! The thing that’s most important about the show and the Stripathon fundraising campaign is that it’s an opportunity for the London theatre community to come together and make a difference. All of us are fortunate to do what we love and it’s wonderful be able to help others. The money that’s raised goes to help people living with HIV and AIDS and that’s what’s fabulous about the West End Bares and MAD Trust and the great work they do. We’ll continue to produce the show until one day, we hopefully won’t have to do them anymore.”

Each act this year is created around the theme ‘Take Off’, so all numbers have an airline theme. All the numbers are choreographed and costumed by the best of the West End’s talent and feature cast members from current West End shows.

The numbers this year will be choreographed by David Grewcock (artistic director for West End Bares and soon to perform in DV8’s JOHN), Joanna Goodwin (recently appeared in the UK tour of Barnum), Racky Plews (director on American Idiot), Mitch Leow (currently performing in Miss Saigon), Stuart Rogers (previously appeared in The Bodyguard, We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins), Sean Parkins (currently in The Book of Mormon), Ashley Nottingham (recently seen in Sinatra The Man and His Music), Aaron Renfree (choreographer and dancer who has worked with The Saturdays and on X Factor), David Allwood (Starlight Express), Ryan Lee Seager (X Factor and American Idiot) and James Cousins (winner of New Adventures Choreographer Award).

The numbers will feature cast members from American Idiot, Cats, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Gypsy, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, Memphis, Miss Saigon, Sinatra, Wicked and many more.

The performers confirmed to bare all are Perry O’Dea, Luke Baker, Aaron Renfree, Sean Parkins, Gen Nicole, Kiel Payton, Lucy Jane Adcock, James Butcher, Will Knights, James Darch, Katie Bradley, Holly James, Maria Graciano, Michelle Andrews, Callum Evans, Kyle Seeley, Lisa Welham, Albert Linsdell, Jack Cooper, Llandyll Gove, Sophie Carmen Jones, Jason Winter, Charis O Connor, Mitch Leow, Matt Gillett, Peter Cork, David Muscat, Ella Nonini, Jono Cordin, Katrina Dix, Hannah Cauchi, Aston Hannington, Steve Rushton, Busola Peters, Lloyd James Green, Simeon John Wake, Frances Dee, James Revel, Peter McPherson, Natalie Woodward, Will Lucas, David Allwood, Russell Preston Fine, Lucy Thatcher, Jack Jefferson, Francis Haugen and Jamie Firth, with more to be announced.

Please note: all artists appear subject to availability.

The Make A Difference Trust is a UK based charity with a vision of a world free from HIV and AIDS. Building on the legacy of 25 years of fundraising by the theatre industry, they continue to make the vision a reality, having distributed more than £1.6 million in grants to support individuals experiencing hardship across the UK, as well as over £1 million to support projects with their UK and international partners.

Tickets are available from www.madtrust.org.uk and are priced from £30.