Just for One Day – the Live Aid Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre

Members of the Theatre Group attended a performance of this musical and what a treat it was. The first half gave us the story of the lead up to the creation of the successful charity single “Do they know it’s Christmas” and the second half continued with the story of the Live Aid concert.

In late 1984, Bob Geldof saw the harrowing BBC report about the starving people in Ethiopia and was inspired to act, phoning Midge Ure to invite him to co-write a song to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Colleagues in the music industry joined them to record the song under the name Band Aid, giving their time for free. The record was released and became the Christmas number one in 1984 raising millions of pounds for famine relief. Feed the World, the song’s chorus, was on everyone’s lips.

The audience heard how not all children could be saved as there were insufficient resources to go round and some had to be left to die. We also heard how aid was held up in Ethiopia due to corruption and that some did not get through to the starving.

The success of the record led directly to the planning of the 1985 Live Aid concert to raise not only money but awareness of the tragedy of famine. Bob Geldof cajoled famous music stars to give their time by telling one famous person/band that another famous person/band had agreed to appear, even if they had not! Thus, he put together a concert of music legends including Queen, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Elton John amongst others with the concert at Wembley Stadium on 13 July 1985 attended by the then Prince Charles and Princess Diana. There was a simultaneous concert in Philadelphia. The concert was broadcast reaching a massive global audience. A staggering amount of money was raised for the cause.

One (very) minor criticism was making fun of Margaret Thatcher and the then Prince Charles – this didn’t add to the show and – in my view – was totally unnecessary.

Having said that, the show was powerful and thought provoking and the singing and dancing wonderful. If you haven’t seen the show, do your best to get a ticket! The performance ended with the audience giving the cast a standing ovation which was so very well deserved.

Many thanks to Mary for organising the tickets which gave all of us such an entertaining afternoon.

Contributed by Ann Wright