One of the most iconic concerts in history, Live Aid, will be transformed into a stage musical in London next year. The event, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in July 1985, raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia and featured legendary musicians such as Queen, U2, Paul McCartney, and Elton John.
The musical, named Just For One Day after a line from David Bowie’s Heroes, will not feature anyone impersonating the singers. Geldof emphasizes that the songs will drive the narrative, which combines a look into the behind-the-scenes efforts of Band Aid and Live Aid with a love story inspired by true events. The production has received the Band Aid Charitable Trust’s complete permission, as well as an agreement to donate 10% of ticket sales.
The Old Vic Theater in London will host Just For One Day from January 26 to March 30. The show’s creators, John O’Farrell and Luke Sheppard, approached Geldof with the idea for the play. Geldof recounted their initial trepidation during an interview, “‘We know you are going to say no, but we want to do it because our dads have never stopped talking about this day. And we think it’s theatre.”‘
Craige Els, a British actor who previously appeared in Dr Who and Ripper Street, will portray Geldof, a prospect that Geldof acknowledges with hesitation. He shares that the portrayal is “bad enough being Bob Geldof,” and continues by recognizing Els’s ability to mimic his signature messages during the Live Aid broadcast.
Live Aid has already received dramatic treatment in the past, including a reenactment of Queen’s set in the Bohemian Rhapsody film. Nonetheless, Geldof hopes that Just For One Day will inspire future audiences to make an impact in their own ways
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