London Theatre Review: Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical

Live Aid took place 15 years before I was born, but the scale and importance is not lost on me and I can only imagine what it was like to experience ‘the greatest concert in history’. Just For One Day offers an opportunity for audiences to step back in time and experience the music that shaped a generation from the comfort of the Shaftesbury Theatre.

The show, written by John O’Farrell, tells the story of Live Aid from the perspective of Bob Geldof, played brilliantly by Craige Els, whose gritty and emotional portrayal is combined with the art of many well-timed F-bombs. Bob’s story is told alongside the people who were at Wembley for the iconic event, including sound technicians and audience members. 

We are guided through the show by Suzanne (Melissa Jacques), whose daughter, Jemma (Fayth Ifil), discovers her Live Aid book packed into her bag and questions the events leading up to it and the impact of the show. Suzanne recalls her experience of selling the Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas single and attending the concert at Wembley Stadium through performances by a younger version of herself, played by Hope Kenna.

Jemma also questions what her generation can do and how it affects them 40 years on, with a performance of The Who’s My Generation performed with beautiful vocals and a new tone. Classic anthems are interwoven into conversations between characters throughout the show. 

The first half of the performance explores the creation of the Band Aid single and the battle to raise money, with Geldof and Midge Ure, played by George Ure (who is surprisingly not related), trying to bring artists together after Bob is overcome with emotion by a news report of the famine in Ethiopa. 

Perhaps most notable is the depiction of Geldof’s trip to Ethiopia where he meets a nurse, played by Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, and we are guided through the Irishman’s experience of seeing the famine, described in a BBC report as “the closest thing to hell on Earth.” The scene is completed by a haunting rendition of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind, which left me with chills.

The 20-person cast, many taking on multiple roles, remain on stage throughout, seated on stadium-like bleachers below the live band, who were absolutely exceptional. Each member of the cast offered something different in their vocals and, for me, faultless dancing and acting.

The latter scenes are filled with toe-tapping, head bopping tributes to 70s and 80s classics, with the live band and vocal talents of the entire cast featuring. Each of the cast had an opportunity to perform musical numbers centre stage during the Live Aid performance later in the show and I thought each of them were fantastic.

Special mention must go to Eloise Davies who silenced the crowd with powerful vocals, and Freddie Love who brought Freddie Mercury to the Shaftesbury Theatre and captivated the audience.

Other notable performances include Kelly Agbowu as Marsha and Tim Mahendran as promoter Harvey Goldsmith. Both presented the challenge of working with an ambitious Sir Bob Geldof to make Live Aid a reality.

The deeply important and at times emotional performance also features moments of comedic relief, whether that is Jemma not knowing what a casette is or Julie Atherton’s portrayal of Margaret Thatcher and her rap battle-style conversation with Bob Geldof to the music of I’m Still Standing. It’s certainly different.

Nearly 40 classic songs, all performed at the 1985 concerts, had the audience clapping their hands and I found myself smiling and involuntarily singing along to music that came out long before I was born. But more importantly, 10% of ticket sales go directly to The Band Aid Charitable Trust and continue to help people around the world.

Sir Bob Geldof took to the stage at the end of this particular performance to highlight the importance of what the show and cast are doing and the hope that a new generation will be inspired to change the world and help the most vulnerable.