Over the past year, Welsh of the West End has become an online viral sensation. Created by Steffan Hughes, this West End super-group features the finest Welsh musical theatre talent from shows such as Les Miserables, Wicked and Phantom of the Opera. With the absence of live theatre due to Covid-19, they’ve sprung into action bringing the West End experience to audiences wherever they are with incredible virtual performances, accumulating over 10M views and 200K likes.
Their next recording was a special performance from Dear Evan Hansen. The group, composed of Amber Davies, Mark Evans, Craig Gallivan, Lauren Drew, Lucie Jones, Mared Williams, Sophie Evans, Luke McCall, Siwan Henderson, Jade Davies, Tom Hier, Rhidian Marc, Glain Rhys and Samantha Thomas, sang “You Will Be Found” are accompanied by a band, all in isolation. The rendition is raising money for the NHS.
Welsh West End performer Steffan Rhys Hughes has reassembled his group of fellow performers from Wales for a follow up their recent version of Rent’s “SEASON OF LOVE”, It’s all in aid of Acting for Others the organisation whose mission is to provide “financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities.”
They’ve also pulled off quite a coup this morning with the announcement that Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been appointed Vice President of the theatrical charity. Waller-Bridge, the lead writer of TV’s critically acclaimed, multi award-winning KILLING EVE and writer and star of FLEABAG on stage and screen says –“Acting for Others has been the silver lining around the cloud that has crept over our theatre industry. I have witnessed first-hand the dedication and compassion this charity has for the people who work so hard to keep this country’s culture alive. I’m honoured to be a Vice President of Acting for Others and I promise to continue working with them to support our industry with the determination and the dignity that they afford each and every person they support.” They have created a zoom performance of “This Is Me” from the movie THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (Soon to be a much anticipated stage musical).
Voted the all time favourite song from a musical by BBC Radio 2 listeners, Welsh of the West End perform ‘One Day More’ from the musical Les Miserables.
Steffan Rhys Hughes, originally from Llangwyfan, who is a member of Only Men Aloud, created the videos to ‘hopefully put a smile on people’s faces’ while much of the country is self-isolating and staying at home. Steffan, who created the tracks at home then asked the singers to record and send their vocals to him so he could put it together, said: “I wanted to display the wonderful young Welsh talent currently on the West End and in national and international touring shows.
