Lee Mead as Joseph

Into the Hoods

Jerry Springer headlines huge West End Live Festival in Leicester Square

17/06/2009

Enjoy two free, family-friendly days of Britain's biggest stage and film acts in the knowledge that you'll never go hungry with Chinatown around the corner...

If you like music, dance and theatre, Leicester Square is the only place to be this weekend, with the West End Live festival bringing you the best of stage and screen for a free, star-studded, two-day outdoor performance extravaganza.

Kicking off at 11am on Saturday, June 20th, West End Live is a family-friendly event based around a giant open air stage in Leicester Square, where audiences will be wowed by a fast-moving mixture of music, dance, acrobatics and beatboxing.

Highlights will include performances by talk-show host Jerry Springer (in his West End role as Billy Flynn in Chicago) and the BBC's I'd Do Anything winner Jodie Prenger, who will perform as Nancy in Oliver!

Compered by national treasure Christopher Biggins, the event will also featureg reat performances from Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Wicked, We Will Rock You, Dirty Dancing, Avenue Q, Thriller Live, The King and I, Stomp, Forbidden Broadway, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, La Cage Aux Folles, Been so Long, Too Close to the Sun and Sister Act.

Children will get a magical Harry Potter movie experience with original Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince movie costumes on display - including the ones worn by Professor Dumbledore and Harry himself. Youngsters will also see TV favourites Bob The Builder, Barney, Fireman Sam, Angelina Ballerina and Postman Pat - as well as enjoying activities from face-painting to puppet-making.

There's even more though: you can check out the world's smallest car, largest inflatable man and many more weird and wonderful objects (thanks to Ripley's 'Believe It Or Not' Odditorium) - and take a look at the real 1989 Batmobile, General Lee from The Dukes of Hazard, the Delorean from Back to the Future, Herbie, and several cars from the Flintstones as well as the Noddy-mobile.

Organised by Westminster City Council, West End Live is a family-friendly event for the young and young-at-heart - and , with Chinatown just 100 yards away, you can fill up on the delights of the Far East before, after or during the fun.

What's on:

Saturday 20th June

Sunday 21st June