The West End stage is coming to the British Motor Museum near Gaydon - here's what you need to know

An outdoor production will showcase music from the West End’s greatest musicals by some of the world’s most illustrious singers in theatre
Penny Tyler from the British Motor Museum, Earl Carpenter and Lizzi Briscoe, event manager). Photo by Mark Anton Smith.Penny Tyler from the British Motor Museum, Earl Carpenter and Lizzi Briscoe, event manager). Photo by Mark Anton Smith.
Penny Tyler from the British Motor Museum, Earl Carpenter and Lizzi Briscoe, event manager). Photo by Mark Anton Smith.

They are used to staging classics - but this year the British Motor Museum will be trying something completely different when it turns itself into a West End stage.

The venue near Gaydon will play host to a new production called ‘Voices of the West End’ which will be performed live in the grounds of the museum on September 25-27.

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The outdoor production, which is a collaboration between Ginger Boy Productions and Birmingham Hippodrome, will showcase music from the West End’s greatest musicals.

Earl Carpenter (photo courtesy of celebrityphotosuk.com).Earl Carpenter (photo courtesy of celebrityphotosuk.com).
Earl Carpenter (photo courtesy of celebrityphotosuk.com).

Some of the world’s most illustrious theatre singers will perform award-winning hits including Earl Carpenter who played Javert, and John Owen-Jones, who played Jan Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh’s 25th anniversary Tour of Les Misérables.

They will be joined by two of the best female voices of the West End: Kerry Ellis and Katie Hall.

Kerry Ellis is one of the top leading ladies of Broadway and West End musicals. She originated the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You and was the first British Elphaba in the West End smash, Wicked.

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Katie Hall recently starred as Fantine in Cameron Mackintosh’s international tour of Les Misérables and has played Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera's UK tour and London's West End. She also played the role of Cosette in Les Miserables' 25th anniversary concert at London’s O2 Arena.

The performances are 90 minutes long with no interval and will take place on Friday September 25 at 7pm, Saturday September 26, when there are two performances at 2pm and 7pm - and on Sunday September 27 at 6pm. Gates open two hours beforehand.

The box office for the concert is managed by Birmingham Hippodrome and tickets can only be booked via its website at www.birminghamhippodrome.com.

Roped pitches are £114 - £169 for a three square metre pitch that can accommodate four people from no more than two households or support bubbles.

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Car spaces are £189 where performances can be watched from inside the car or set up next to it. There is a maximum of four people only exclusively from two households or support bubbles per pitch.

The chefs at the British Motor Museum are making picnics and luxury hampers which can be pre-ordered along with a selection of wines.

These must be pre-ordered via the museum's website and orders close on August 16.

On the event day there will also be a small food and drink area serving burgers with vegetarian/vegan options, coffee/teas, ice creams etc and a bar selling alcoholic and soft drinks along with a Pinnock’s Artisan Gin Bar.

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Jeff Coope, managing director at the British Motor Museum said “We are delighted to host Voices of the West End in a safe and socially distanced environment.

"We are always keen to support the arts especially in light of COVID-19 and we hope to attract an audience that might not have visited the Museum before to enjoy some superb musical theatre”.

For more information about the event please visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/voices-of-the-west-end