Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical London Tickets & Tour 2027

Relive the day music changed the world as Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical hits stages across the UK and Ireland. Packed with era-defining anthems from Queen, U2, Bowie, Madonna, and more, this electrifying jukebox event is a must-see celebration in your city.

Date	City	Venue	Tickets
Wed 31 Mar 2027 - Sat 10 Apr 2027	Leicester	Curve Leicester	Tickets
Tue 20 Apr 2027 - Sat 24 Apr 2027	Cardiff	Wales Millennium Centre	Tickets
Tue 27 Apr 2027 - Sat 1 May 2027	Canterbury	The Marlowe Theatre	Tickets
Tue 4 May 2027 - Sat 15 May 2027	Manchester	Opera House	Tickets
Tue 18 May 2027 - Sat 22 May 2027	Oxford	New Theatre Oxford	Tickets
Tue 25 May 2027 - Sat 29 May 2027	Edinburgh	Edinburgh Playhouse	Tickets
Tue 1 Jun 2027 - Sat 5 Jun 2027	Plymouth	Theatre Royal	Tickets
Tue 8 Jun 2027 - Sat 12 Jun 2027	Sunderland	Sunderland Empire	Tickets
Tue 22 Jun 2027 - Sat 3 Jul 2027	Birmingham	The Alexandra	Tickets
Tue 20 Jul 2027 - Sat 24 Jul 2027	Nottingham	Theatre Royal	Tickets

Why You Need to See It

• Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical lets you relive 13 July 1985 from the inside, telling the behind-the-scenes story of how a scrappy charity single grew into twin mega‑concerts at Wembley and JFK Stadium that united 1.9 billion viewers around the world in “rock ’n’ roll diplomacy”.
• The show began life with a record-breaking run at The Old Vic, becoming the theatre’s fastest-selling musical ever, and now plays a full West End season at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with a gala performance timed to exactly 40 years after the original Live Aid concerts on 13 July 2025.
• Rather than a tribute concert, it is a new book musical written by John O’Farrell and directed by Luke Sheppard that follows Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, fans, musicians, and industry insiders through the frantic months of organising Band Aid, Live Aid, and global TV coverage, mixing documentary-style detail with fictionalised personal stories.
• The score is a jukebox of 1980s rock and pop anthems performed or associated with Live Aid, with songs by Queen, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams, Phil Collins, Status Quo, Diana Ross, Simple Minds, Madonna, and more, all woven into the narrative rather than performed as stand-alone covers.
• Featured numbers on the cast recording and song lists include Heroes, Rat Trap, Drive, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, Radio Ga Ga, We Are the Champions, Do They Know It’s Christmas?, We Are the World, Summer of ’69, Dancing in the Street, Vienna, I Don’t Like Mondays, Rebel Rebel, Don’t You (Forget About Me), Into the Groove, and All You Need Is Love, giving you a wide spectrum of British and American 80s hits in one night.
• Casting is ensemble-led with real historical figures at its heart: Craige Els reprises his acclaimed performance as Bob Geldof, with George Ure as Midge Ure and Julie Atherton in multiple key roles including Margaret Thatcher, supported by a large company who shift between fans, band members, politicians, and media figures to create the sense of a whole world mobilising for the concerts.
• The principal West End cast at the Shaftesbury includes Kelly Agbowu, Jason Battersby, Hope Kenna, Freddie Love, Emily Ooi, Ashley Samuels, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, AJ Lewis, Joel Montague, Jack Michael Stacey, Tamara Tare, George Ure, and others, many of whom originated their roles at The Old Vic and bring a rock‑gig intensity to the vocals and harmonies.
• Costumes by Fay Fullerton (from the Old Vic production) recreate mid‑1980s gig fashion and public personas with care: expect denim, leather jackets, slogan tees, ripped jeans, big hair, and distinctive looks that nod to artists like Bowie, Queen, Madonna, and Duran Duran without requiring exact impersonation, balancing nostalgia with theatrical clarity.
• The ensemble double and triple as different acts and fans, so subtle costume elements – a jacket, sunglasses, a wig, a specific colour palette – help you track who is “on stage” at Wembley or Philadelphia at any moment, while the everyday clothes of record-shop workers, journalists, and volunteers ground the story in ordinary people’s lives.
• Soutra Gilmour’s set design, combined with Andrzej Goulding’s video and animation, turns the stage into a constantly shifting landscape of stadium scaffolding, TV control rooms, backstage corridors, and living rooms around the world, using live cameras, projections, and iconic stage imagery (like Queen’s set) to evoke the scale of Live Aid inside a theatre.
• Musical supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Matthew Brind stitch together rock, pop, new wave, and ballads into dramatic medleys, such as mash-ups of Everytime You Go Away / True / Every Breath You Take or Rebel Rebel / Don’t You (Forget About Me) / Into the Groove, allowing multiple narrative threads and locations to play out simultaneously over classic tracks.
• The show has been praised by early reviewers as “rocking in all the right ways,” with particular applause for its Queen sequences (Radio Ga Ga, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody), emotionally charged uses of Drive and Do They Know It’s Christmas?, and the way it balances humour, politics, and pathos without slipping into hagiography.
• Beyond entertainment, the musical foregrounds the ethical complexities of charity, media spectacle, and Western responses to famine in Ethiopia, inviting audiences to think about where the money went, how images of suffering were used, and what lasting impact the concerts had, while still celebrating the solidarity and sheer logistical audacity of the event.
• Ten percent of all ticket sales are donated directly to The Band Aid Charitable Trust, so attending the show continues Live Aid’s legacy of fundraising for anti-poverty work, which adds an extra layer of meaning to buying a ticket for this particular musical compared with other nostalgia-based jukebox shows.
• Guidance suggests the musical is suitable for older children and teens, with under‑16s typically needing to be accompanied by an adult and under‑5s not admitted; language, depictions of famine news coverage, and discussions of politics and ego mean it resonates most strongly with audiences who can remember Live Aid or have some interest in music and social justice history.

Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical cast on West End

Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical plays at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, telling the story behind the 1985 Live Aid concerts through a company led by Craige Els as Bob Geldof. Below are the principal West End performers and the main roles they play in this UK production.

• Craige Els as Bob Geldof
• Kelly Agbowu as Marsha
• Julie Atherton as Margaret Thatcher
• Jason Battersby as David
• Jordan Cambridge-Taylor as Stevie
• Eloise Davies as Maria
• James Hameed as Khalil
• Fayth Ifil as Jemma
• Melissa Jacques as Suzanne
• Hope Kenna as Young Suzanne
• AJ Lewis as Kai
• Freddie Love as Skye
• Tim Mahendran as Harvey Goldsmith
• Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Amara
• Emily Ooi as Ellie
• Ashley Samuels as Jim
• Jake Small as John Kennedy
• Jack Michael Stacey as Tim
• Tamara Tare as Alicia
• George Ure as Midge Ure

The Venue: Shaftesbury Theatre

More West End Musicals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical about?

Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical tells the behind-the-scenes story of how the historic 1985 Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia were created, framed through a present-day mother and daughter who are transported back in time by a treasured Live Aid souvenir. It mixes a fictional family story with real-life musicians, organisers, and fans to explore why that day mattered and how its message of global solidarity still resonates 40 years later.

Where is Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical playing in London?

The musical is playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End, located at 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP, close to Tottenham Court Road and Holborn underground stations. This large West End venue hosts the full-scale production with a big cast, live band, and arena-style sound and lighting to capture the feel of a huge rock concert on stage.

How long is Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical?

Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical runs for about 2 hours 30–35 minutes including one interval, which is a typical length for a major West End musical. Evening performances at 7:30 pm usually finish a little before 10:15 pm, while matinees at 2:30 pm end shortly after 5 pm, giving plenty of time for travel before and after the show.

When is the show running in the West End and is there a tour?

The Shaftesbury Theatre run is scheduled from May 2025 into early 2026, with some sources listing final performances in January and others noting shows until early February as the production heads into its final weeks. After the London run, Just For One Day is set to tour the UK and Ireland, bringing the Live Aid story to additional cities with dates still being added.

What songs are featured in Just For One Day?

The musical features reimagined versions of iconic songs by artists who performed at Live Aid, including David Bowie, Bob Dylan, The Who, U2, Queen, Madonna, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and more. These hits are arranged for a theatre cast and band, creating a live concert atmosphere while supporting the narrative about the people who made the original event possible.

What is the age recommendation and content guidance?

Most London ticket sites recommend Just For One Day for ages 12 or 14 and over, with parental guidance advised for younger teens, because the show includes strong language and adult themes. Content notices highlight loud music, flashing lights, haze effects, and frequent swearing, so it is best suited to older children, teens, and adults who are comfortable with a rock-concert environment.

Is Just For One Day suitable for families and teens?

Older teens and families who love classic rock and pop often enjoy the show’s combination of big anthems and an emotional story about activism, hope, and generational memories of Live Aid. For younger teens, parents should consider the strong language and loud sound levels, but many reviews describe it as an uplifting, high-energy night out that can spark conversations about charity, history, and music.

How can I find cheap tickets for Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical?

Cheaper tickets are often available for weekday performances, especially Mondays to Thursdays, and for seats further from the stage or slightly to the side that still offer a good view. Comparing prices from the official Shaftesbury Theatre and authorised outlets with discounts, rush or lottery options, and special offers on the MusicalsAndTickets website is a smart way to find good-value tickets that suit your budget.

Where is the best place to buy tickets?

The safest options are the official Just For One Day / Shaftesbury Theatre booking channels and major authorised ticket agents, which show live seat availability, clear pricing, and any access performances. After checking those, you can also explore trusted theatre ticket sites and the MusicalsAndTickets website, which often highlight promotions, remaining best seats, and different price bands across multiple dates.

Where can I check Just For One Day showtimes?

Standard performance times are Monday to Saturday at 7:30 pm, with matinee performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30 pm, though schedules can change on holidays or special occasions. For the most accurate and current list of performance days and start times on your chosen date, it is recommended to visit the Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical event page on the MusicalsAndTickets website, where showtimes are clearly displayed before you choose your tickets.