EXCLUSIVE: Irish rock knight Bob Geldof and the producers of Just For One Day, the musical about the Live Aid rock concerts in London and Philadelphia on July 13, 1985, will transfer the show, which world-premiered at London’s Old Vic Theatre last January, into the West End in 2025 to mark the seminal event’s 40th anniversary.
The production, directed by Luke Sheppard and with a book by John O’Farrell, weaves together the Live Aid story from the perspective of those who worked behind the scenes to put it on, namely Geldof and Scottish musician Midge Ure. Both co-founded The Band Aid Charitable Trust.
The trust has funneled its funds into helping to alleviate starvation and poverty in Africa. It will receive 10% of every Just For One Day ticket sold, plus, after recoupment, some 50% of the show’s profits.
The starry names who performed that summer day on both sides of the Atlantic included Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Elton John, Queen (with frontman Freddie Mercury’s unforgettable showmanship) and countless other luminaries. Their famous hits are covered in the show by a scorching ensemble of performers.
Craige Els, who portrayed the show’s Bob Geldof character at the Old Vic, will resume the role when Just For One Day moves into the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre with previews beginning May 15, 2025. A special gala performance on July 13 will mark Live Aid’s 40th anniversary.
(L-R) John O’Farrell, Bob Geldof and Luke Sheppard at ‘Just For One Day’ rehearsals
Manuel Harlan
Other organizations are marking the occasion with documentaries; one’s being developed by CNN in partnership with the BBC.
The BBC is considering plans to replay the entire Live Aid broadcast on the 40th anniversary, in real time as it happened, on BBC4.
Sheppard (& Juliet) will assemble his creative team and cast for a weeklong workshop to finesse the show; some tinkering with the book and rearrangement of song placements is being considered.
Jamie Wilson, a producer of Just For One Day with the Old Vic and The Band Aid Charitable Trust, boasts that the show was “the fastest-selling musical in Old Vic history.”
Craige Els portrays Bob Geldof in ‘Just For One Day’
Manuel Harlan
Just For One Day will rehearse in London during December and resume again in January in Toronto. The show will play at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto from January 28-March 16. The company will then relocate to London to prepare for the Shaftesbury Theatre’s limited season, which is booking tickets until January 10, 2026.
A Just For One Day original cast album will be released early in 2025 on all the usual media outlets. But, get this: Wilson tells us that they’re releasing a double vinyl version.
The Mrs. Doubtfire musical currently playing at the Shaftesbury will play its last performance on April 26, 2025. However, there are plans for it to tour the UK and overseas in Europe and Australia.
Sheppard currently has the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s choo-choo train musical Starlight Express running at the Troubadour Wembley. He also directed the brilliant new musical The Little Big Things at the @sohoplace Theatre, a venue that’s in the running for a prize at Tuesday night’s Sky Arts Awards, which is being broadcast live from The Roundhouse in Camden on Sky Arts and on Freeview in the UK.
