West End LIVE 2015 is set to attract more than 500,000 visitors over two days with hugely popular, free events in Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square

30 shows join the main stage line-up

West End LIVE in association with MasterCard takes place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June 2015. Now in its 11th year, this free annual event – the largest event of its type in the world – is organised by Westminster City Council and Official London Theatre and offers fantastic free family entertainment from London’s top theatre productions and attractions.

Cllr Robert Davis, Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council and founder of West End LIVE over a decade ago, said:  “West End LIVE is the must-see event of the summer. On 20 and 21 June, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square will be awash with the colour, music and the razzmatazz of West End theatre. It is our 11th year and once again we have a fantastic selection of shows taking part – we just cannot wait to get started.”

Major crowd pleasing shows returning to the West End Live stage this year include; Billy Elliot The Musical, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, The Commitments, Disney’s The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Let It Be, Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical, Miss Saigon, The Phantom Of The Opera, Stomp, Thriller Live, War Horse and Wicked, plus performances from English National Opera (ENO) and touring productions of Avenue Q and Shrek The Musical.

New shows making their West End LIVE debuts over the weekend include American Idiot, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, What’s It all About-Bacharach – Reimagined, The Dreamers, Dusty, Gypsy, Memphis The Musical, Sunny Afternoon and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Plus a sneak preview of Elf and Three Little Pigs.

On the Sunday, West End LIVE will be bringing back its West End Cabaret hosted by Ben Stock with some of the West End’s best loved performers. Fans will have the chance to request their favourite show tune to be performed by tweeting in their suggestions before 10 June.

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, said: “Theatre is one of the capital’s greatest draws with an international reputation for offering world-class entertainment, and West End LIVE is a unique opportunity to showcase the quality and diversity of shows the London stage has to offer as well as putting on a great free family event for the public to enjoy.”

Visitors will be able to buy a full range of discounted theatre tickets at the TKTS tent in Trafalgar Square as well as take part in lots of other fun activities around the square.

Theatre fans are also invited to Leicester Square for a dose of outstanding family fun at West End LIVE’s exclusive and completely free pop-up theatre experience in our fabulous 1920s Spiegeltent.

If you’ve ever fancied petting a dinosaur or having a selfie with an Olivier Award statuette then this is the place to come! Enter the Kids’ Zone to meet the stars of Dinosaur Zoo (if you dare…) or take part in a West End storytelling session. Family favourites Aliens Love Underpants and Horrible Histories will be joining in the fun, while theatre lovers of all ages can take the chance to see costumes up close, watch make-up demonstrations and discover the secrets of shows including the multi Olivier Award-winning hit The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time and The 39 Steps as well as this year’s Best New Comedy Olivier Award winner The Play That Goes Wrong.

Plus, there will be chances to win tickets and prizes on offer throughout the weekend.

Nicola Grant, Head of Marketing at MasterCard UK&I, said: “West End LIVE is a celebration of the best of London theatre and we are proud to support the big weekend once again in what is our fifth year as a partner of this event. During the weekend, we will be giving out many Priceless Surprises in and around Trafalgar Square giving cardholders the chance to share in the magic of some of London’s best theatre shows.

West End LIVE is the next phase of our Priceless Theatres campaign as we continue to look for ways to get consumers closer to the drama, passion and excitement of London’s world-class theatre scene.”

For more information visit the West End LIVE website www.westendlive.co.uk, and for the latest news and chat visit www.facebook.com/westendlive and Twitter @WestEndLIVE