Just For One Day
Shaftesbury Theatre
4.7/5 based on 52 reviews (read reviews)- Opens: Wednesday, 14 May 2025 -
Booking until: Saturday, 10 January 2026 - Running time: 2hr 35min. Incl. 1 interval.
Just For One Day photos
Just For One Day description
Were you there? Did you watch it on TV? Roll back time to the 1980s when political unrest, social revolution, boom and bust were the name of the game and Live Aid took to the stage to change the world of fundraising forever. Now it’s on in the West End.
From 1983, for two years, a horrific famine devastated Ethopia... and the Western World’s politicians stood by and did nothing. Summer 1985 changed everything. On 13 July ‘85 two Live Aid concerts, one in London and the other in Philadelphia USA, made history, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, who were determined to do something to help.
An audience of 1.5 billion rocked the world
70 world-class artists performed in front of an audience of 1.5 billion. Together they raised an epic $127 million. Just For One Day tells the story of that incredible event, an extraordinary new musical about the Live Aid concerts and the people who were united by them.
From the director of & Juliet and writer of Mrs Doubtfire, it features tunes from pop legends David Bowie, Queen, Elton John, The Who, U2, Diana Ross, The Police, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, The Pretenders, The Cars, Status Quo, Paul Weller, Sade, The Boomtown Rats, Bryan Adams, Ultravox and many more.
The show stars Craige Els (Doctor Who, Matilda The Musical) as Bob Geldof, it’s directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, The Little Big Things), and the book is by John O’Farrell (Mrs Doubtfire), who has collaborated with Sir Bob Geldof himself. It’s good to know that 10% of the ticket sales will be donated to The Band Aid Charitable Trust, which is still going strong.
An outstanding creative team
Matthew Brind is responsible for the musical supervision, arrangements and orchestration and Ebony Molina for the choreography. Soutra Gilmour has designed the set and Fay Fullerton the costumes. Howard Hudson is the lighting designer, Gareth Owen the sound designer, Andrzej Goulding has created the video and animation and Stuart Burt is responsible for the casting.
This is an Old Vic Production, staged with the permission of The Band Aid Charitable Trust and supported by Jamie Wilson Productions, Kevin McCollum, Sonia Friedman Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Kenny Wax Ltd and the Ambassador Theatre Group.
This superb musical tour de force reveals what people-power can achieve when we work together. You’ll leave the venue feeling exhilarated.
Playing at Shaftesbury Theatre
Age restrictions
Ages 12+. Parental guidance recommended.
Important information
This production contains: loud music, flashing lights, haze, frequent strong language.