During the ‘Be Our Guest’ number in West End Heroes, host Christopher Biggins flew in as a chandelier. Pictures: Claire Bilyard
West End Heroes 2015 was performed at the Dominion Theatre, London.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
West End Heroes is now established as a truly unique and special annual event combining the best of the West End with the best of our Armed Forces bands and singers, supporting the phenomenal work of the charity Help For Heroes. Everyone gives their time for free and every single penny raised provides complete holistic support for wounded, sick and injured armed services men and women, family and friends, as they try to come to terms, and learn to live with devastating life-changing physical and emotional injuries. Help For Heroes provides medical, mind, body, spirit and family support for the rest of their lives. Throughout the evening of exceptional entertainment we were reminded of great sacrifice and dedication with emotional and humbling moments of deep poignancy, but also wonderful moments of hilarity – especially with a fabulous host and force of nature such as Christopher Biggins!
Biggins set the ball rolling a few weeks ago, launching West End Heroes 2015 photographed as a female Air Force officer alongside soldiers from various regiments in ceremonial uniforms. Indeed he appeared onstage as such as part of the Andrews Sisters-inspired singing trio, the RAF Blue Belles – all great fun. But first, after a rousing opening fanfare and ‘National Anthem’ from the class musicians of The Central Band of the RAF and a ‘Fighter Command March’ from eight incredibly drilled white-helmeted drummers from HM Royal Marines, The Band of the Army Air Corps, Biggins was flown in from the top of the stage, sitting in a giant bauble and resplendent in a glittering jacket which he claimed to have found in his dressing room. After reminding us of the 75th anniversary of the setting up of the Central Band of the RAF, and some light-hearted banter with the servicemen on stage, he introduced the first of several West End Show performances.
After seeing Ben Forster, Kimberley Walsh, Joe McGann and Jessica Martin, along with the full ELF The Musical company in action, I for one am very much looking forward to seeing this production soon. Mazz Murray from Mamma Mia! then stormed the stage with a rousing solo rendition of ‘Waterloo’, accompanied by one of the most accomplished big bands in the UK, the fantastic RAF Squadronaires.
Before Bradley Jaden, Kimberley Walsh and Aaron Lee Lambert performed a wonderful ‘Who I’d Be’ from Shrek and reminded us that there are some great songs in that show, Bonnie Langford introduced the Colchester Garrison Military Wives Choir singing ‘Don’t Stop Believin’, also reminding us that as a result of Gareth Malone’s choir quest several years ago, there are now more than 70 choirs within the network of the Military Wives Choirs Foundation – a stunning achievement indeed.
The cast of Elf the Musical at the Dominion Theatre
Jessica Martin then entertained with ‘I Love a Film Cliché’, demonstrating her great comedic skills with some hilarious impressions – the audience absolutely loved her. Abigail Rose sang ‘Nightporter’ from the National Youth Theatre’s 2013 musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and the West End Heroes Choir (singers who work in non-performing roles within the theatre industry) rehearsed by Stuart Morley sang ‘Whistle Down the Wind’.
One of most moving moments of the evening came just before the interval, when Maurillia Simpson sang an extraordinarily soul-searing ‘His Eye is On the Sparrow’, featured in the play The Two Worlds of Charlie F. Devised and first performed by injured soldiers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2012, a UK tour in 2014 won critical acclaim. Simpson spoke of her journey through injury and how she is currently in training for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Team GB in Sitting Volleyball. Extraordinary – a woman to watch out for and my absolute ‘wow’ moment of the evening
While we all wiped tears from our eyes, Christopher Biggins and Mazz Murray returned to change the mood with an hilarious Generation Game throwback as they attempted to join in drill with The Queen’s Colour Squadron of the RAF. Murray decided early on that shimmying with a gun was much easier and more fun than trying to march properly – especially when wearing a full length blue sequinned dress. Biggins simply flirted with the soldiers…
Could this be topped? Well actually yes it could. As the fabulous West End Heroes Dancers performed a brilliant ‘Be Our Guest’, Biggins was again flown in from above, dominating centre stage once again in a giant glittery teapot! Arms and legs thrust out above and below the teapot and fireworks and paper flares finished exuberantly.
Maurillia Simpson performs ‘His Eye is On the Sparrow’ at West End Heroes 2015. Picture: Claire Bilyard
The audience enjoyed the interval in high spirits, mingling with soldiers making collections and were summoned back to Act II by video footage of the Battle of Britain and music by the Central Band and the Blue Belles, including Biggins as a blonde singing ‘Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree’. Chief technician Kevin Miles was presented with a plaque by Biggins on his last night of 23 years service to the RAF, before he joined the Grenadier Guards the following morning as director of music. Our host was desperate to see him wearing his Bearskin but his musings were interrupted by HM Royal Marines, The Band of the Army Air Corps drummers, dominating the theatre once again with a majestic fanfare from Dress Circle boxes. Wonderful stuff.
The West End show highlight performances in Act II were led by Barnaby Thompson and the West End Heroes Dancers in a thrilling ‘Tap Your Troubles Away’, brilliantly choreographed by Stuart Morley. Choirs and bands performed a powerful ‘Once We Were Kings’ from Billy Elliot, followed by an exceptional performance from Rachel John, singing ‘Coloured Woman’ from Memphis. It is surely time this amazing talent was given her own West End leading role. Jon Robyns was heartfelt in ‘Memphis Lives In Me’. John Owen-Jones and Celinde Schoenmaker were, as expected, sensational when singing The Phantom of the Opera duet and then Owen -Jones drew the entire audience into his compelling and mesmerising ‘Music of the Night’ with charisma and absolute technical mastery.
We were also privileged to see BGT runner-up, illusionist Jamie Raven do his magic with audible gasps from the audience. Young BGT soprano Charlotte Jaconelli soared with ‘Love Never Dies’, while Squadron Leader Matthew Little (RAF Band director of music) sang a moving ‘Til I Hear You Sing’. Male vocal octet El Ocho performed an electrifying ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in a fitting and classy homage to the long-running production of We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre.
The evening finished in a poignant ‘Abide With Me’ and atmospheric ‘Sunset’, composed by Capt. A.C. Green, honouring all those who have gone to fight for their country but who did not return. A sobering moment of reflection, acknowledging the very personal and human cost to our military and their families. Finally the Military Wives and entire West End Heroes company finished with a tremendous ‘Do You Hear tThe People Sing?’
The producer of West End Heroes is Dominion Theatre general manager David Pearson who is ex-Royal Air Force. His determination to continue to support servicemen and women, and to champion the irreplaceable, genuinely lifesaving work of West End Heroes is clearly a huge labour of love for him. It is an immense privilege to support this endeavour, and for those of us with little or no personal links to our Armed Forces, it is an invaluable glimpse into the true human cost of war.
One soldier, Paul Wilson, said: “Since 2013 I was really suffering. I was constantly saying to my wife, ‘There’s no way out; there’s no help for me’. And then probably within months of starting the work with Help For Heroes, my life was turned around. Really, it’s thanks to everyone that fundraises, so thank you.”
It’s that simple. It’s life changing.
Catherine Françoise
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