Just For One Day

(seen at the afternoon preview performance on 24th May 2025)

The monkey was a cynical teenager in the era of “Band Aid” and all that followed. Like many, it questioned whether this vast outpouring of demonstrative emotion (unknown in the 1980s) was achieving anything at all.

First beauty of this musical drama-documentary-love story is that it asks the same thing. Second beauty is that it doesn’t take itself at all seriously in answering the question.

Very occasionally, a musical finds an entirely unique voice, a way of telling a deeper story so well that it resonates for a very long time after. “Les Misérables,” “Cats,” “Carousel”, “Six” as examples of a very short list. You can add this to them.

John O’Farrell uses a titanium peg of a story about a record shop girl in Weston Super Mare to jump between today and that day in 1985. It is more than strong enough to carry the weight of how the entire “Live Aid” concert came to be, right from Geldof watching a TV news report to the final crew member asking “is that it, then?”

A terrific cast sing songs of the era. No impersonations, just finding the same meaning as the originals. There are jokes galore, some aimed at boomers who were there, others decidedly “in” among the celebrities of the era.

Craige Els just is Geldof. Foul-mouthed and driven, nailing expiration at today’s youth with a single, “you would be!” at veganism. With brilliant Tim Mahendran as clock-wearing Harvey Goldsmith, you can see how they did the concert in a few weeks (note to script editor – you can’t have techs saying they worked on it “for months” as they couldn’t have).

Julie Atherton’s Margaret Thatcher is a star turn, enemy then ally. Having to deal with a despicable disruptive audience member, an eye-roll and later under breath “off with his head” demonstrated her well-known skills even further at this particular performance.

Melissa Jacques and Hope Kenna as Suzanne and young Suzanne respectively are wonderful as our central guides to the times. Jacques takes her own daughter, Jemma (Fayth Ifil, a voice to remember) back to the period, the memories as sweet as first love Tim (Jack Michael Stacey on excellent teen boy form).

Tamara Tare as Alicia, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Amara, Jason Battersby as David and Kelly Agbowu as Marsha all score hugely vocally and in smaller roles.

The monkey also has to note the authenticity of the seats of Sotra Gilmour’s simple rostrum set. The actual Wembley Stadium had them closer together, but those backless orange plastic things are accurate.

Mentions too for Andrzej Goulding’s video designs – far more sophisticated than we could do back then, but adding a lot to the atmosphere. Likewise Gareth Owen’s sounds and Howard Hudson’s light designs benefit from our current technology, and it is amusing just where the microphones are produced from at times.

A few are going to quibble that the final concert section is just that, to extend running time. In fact, it is the final genius of this show. Melting the atmosphere of the audience with the pandemonium backstage and the global reaction is done in a far cleverer way that detractors are willing to credit.

Those who remember will feel nostalgic, those too young will experience one of the very best history lessons they will ever have.

For what it boils down to is simple: Bad politics and farming failure left massive numbers in Ethiopia starving. One man with the status and energy tried to do something to help, sending out an SOS to the world.

That is amazing, and we all need to be reminded of the fact. This show does so, brilliantly.

Just give the box office your f**king money.

Standing ovation given.

Add Your Own Review

(from the current production)

It appears that the seating in the upper circle of the Shaftesbury Theatre has been replaced. Now much more upright, and possibly more comfortable, than the rather low old seats. However, row J has been fitted about a foot from the back wall meaning it no longer has the generous leg room of old! There is now lots of potential storage space behind this row for bags and coats.

The large silver ventilation ducts bolted to the ceiling in the upper circle may be ugly but it is pleasantly cool up here on a very hot day.

Dave.
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There have been siginifcant changes compares to the 2024 run in the Old Vic but still it is enjoyable (although I still don't like the "framing story"). As to a brilliant soundtrack and the fact that Live Aid still moves me after all those years I can give 4 bananas.

(from the previous Old Vic Theatre run in 2024. Some actors have now left the cast).

I've seen this one twice, once in the last row in the stalls and once in front row (you could even see that Maggie Thatcher had a runner in her pantyhose :-)  ).

The first time I was really impressed and that was the reason why I tried to get a TodayTix rush ticket and was successful. I knew that I didn't like the role of Jemma when I fist saw it but when seeing it for the second time it was even worse.

I know that it's only the frame story that somebody from Generation Z gets all the information 
about "Live Aid". So far so good, but when this Generation-Z-character then tries to moralise that Live Aid was racist because there were not enough black musicians on stage, then I can only say that this is just arrogant. How can a person who raises millions of pounds be racist when he tries to save thousands of lives in Africa?

And the Gen-Z-actors and actresses didn't really hit the "Live Aid Mood" of the 1980s at all. It was some kind of "We are the modern generation" and you did everything wrong and are to blame for climate problems and for everything else. And I'm vegan and you aren't.

This would have been a brilliant musical  without the frame story and the arrogance of that Gen-Z-kid. I was 16 by the time of Live Aid and it was the first concert that was being broadcast live on German TV. Gosh, I do remember the discussion with my parents why I want to watch it. I even invited half my class to sit on our sofa in the living room and then my dad finally allowed us to use the TV set for the whole concert. Without the frame story it would have been ***** but as this frame story really annoyed me it's only worth ***.

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B17/18 Grand Circle, which is the second row of the uppermost seating area. These were very central and better than Row A which does have a bar running the whole way across. The rake is very steep but the view was excellent, with all parts of the stage clearly visible and given we paid about £25 each, I thought were good value. We are not tall and legroom was an issue for us and I would hate to have been 6ft plus for the duration of the show. I will admit, at the interval we spotted a half empty row in the stalls and made our way down there at the interval, row E or F which were excellent but looking on line this morning, are more than 4 times what we paid, so not sure the extra expense is totally worth it!

The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.

Run Time:	2 hours 30 minutes, including one interval
Monday:	7.30pm
Tuesday:	7.30pm
Wednesday:	2.30pm, 7.30pm
Thursday:	7.30pm
Friday:	7.30pm
Saturday:	2.30pm, 7.30pm
Sunday:	X

Venue Box Office & Current Prices

020 7379 5399
Venue box office details and show price charts are available on the Shaftesbury Theatre page.

TodayTix

Just for One Day
TodayTix charge between 10% and 20% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are often available as this is a large global ticketing company with this specific aim.

Ticketmaster

Just for One Day
Ticketmaster charge around 8% to 10% booking fee per ticket. Handling fees may also be added. This is the largest ticketing agency worldwide.

London Theatre Direct

Just for One Day
London Theatre Direct.com charge between 10% and 25% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are frequently available. Part of Trafalgar Theatre Group, known for customer service and unique offers.

See Tickets

Just for One Day
See Tickets.com charge around 10% booking fee per ticket, plus £2.75 per booking (not per ticket) postal charge. They are owned by ticketing group Eventim.

LoveTheatre.com

Just for One Day
LOVEtheatre charge around 10% booking fee per ticket. They are owned by Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and often have good deals on shows at ATG venues.

Location: Box office discretion
Availability: Box office discretion
Price: £35
Notes: Customers can buy in person from the box office counter from NOON on the day. They are limited to TWO per person. Strictly subject to availability. They reserve the right to withdraw them if the show is near to selling out.

Venue: Shaftesbury Theatre
Address: 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8DP
Box Office: 020 7379 5399

More details: Seats to buy or avoid at this venue plus travel information and other details can be found on the Shaftesbury Theatre page