LIVE performances will return to Bournemouth's Pavilion Theatre in October for the first time since lockdown brought the curtain down.

West End stars will take to the stage in the first post-lockdown live concert and theatre-lovers are being urged to support the production.

West End Unlocked will bring four of the West End's best voices to town.

Nigel Richards, Claire Moore, Charlotte Wakefield and Louis Maskell have a host of credits to their name and will be joined by musical director Colin Billing and a small band of musicians.

They will perform favourites from musicals old and new with social distancing at the top of the agenda for both performers and audience members.

Organisers of the concert have been working tirelessly with venue operators BHLive to ensure the safety of all involved.

There will be staggered arrival times, socially-distanced seating and it will be a one-act show to avoid mingling during an interval.

Seats will be allocated around a week ahead of the performances when numbers are known.

Colin Billing told the Daily Echo: "The theatre industry and freelance theatre practitioners face huge challenges moving forward, but we’re passionately committed to finding ways to start gradually opening up and safely allowing audiences to experience a live concert once again.

"BHLive have been working hard to ensure that every member of the audience can feel safe and secure."

A spokesman for the Pavilion added: "We’re really delighted to bring live musical theatre back to Bournemouth with a fantastic line up of singers for three socially distanced, COVID-secure concerts in October."

Nigel Richards' credits include playing the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Blood Brothers, Songs for a New World and Martin Guerre.

The hugely talented and Olivier Award-nominated Claire Moore has appeared in Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Phantom Of The Opera and Mary Poppins.

Charlotte Wakefield, who played Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, has appeared in The Sound of Music, Mamma Mia and Srping Awakening, among other things.

And Louis Maskell's credits include The Grinning Man, Flowers For Mrs. Harris, Fiddler On The Roof and West Side Story.

There will be threeperformances on Friday October 16 at 7.30pm and on Saturday October 17 and 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

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