Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical Tickets

Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical  is more than just a jukebox musical—it’s a bold, moving tribute to the real people behind the Live Aid movement. Written by John O’Farrell and directed by Luke Sheppard, this Old Vic-to-Shaftesbury Theatre transfer fuses politics, protest and pop music into one electrifying theatrical experience. Through the eyes of both those who lived it and those discovering it anew, the show asks what it truly means to try and change the world. Here's your guide to the key characters in Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical.

The West End is turning up the volume as Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical rocks back into London. Inspired by the legendary 1985 concert that changed the world, this bold new show hits the stage with global hits, real-life drama, and a tidal wave of nostalgia. Packed with anthems from Queen, U2, David Bowie, Elton John and more, it’s a celebration of the music, the moment—and the people who made it happen. But does this jukebox juggernaut hit all the right notes, or is it just living on a prayer?

What is Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical about?

More than a concert re-creation, Just For One Day dives behind the scenes of the global phenomenon that was Live Aid. The show follows the people who came together to stage a global event in response to a devastating humanitarian crisis. Sparked by news footage of the famine in Ethiopia, what began as a bold idea became a history-making concert watched by over one and a half billion people.

Set to a soundtrack of era-defining hits, the musical captures the urgency, idealism and sheer chaos behind the scenes. It’s a story about the power of collective action—and the role music can play in bringing people together when it matters most. But does this stage version capture the spirit of a cultural turning point, or does it get lost in the noise?

Bob Geldof's first thought a Live Aid musical was “a crap idea”—but that scepticism didn’t last. What’s emerged is a high-octane, hit-filled celebration that captures the heart of the iconic 1985 concert and the movement it inspired. Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical reimagines one of music’s most legendary moments with fresh urgency, infectious energy, and a cast that brings new life to some of the greatest anthems ever written.

Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical bursts back onto the London stage after its record-breaking Old Vic run, and it’s easy to see why it sold out so fast there. With 26 cast members, songs from Queen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, U2, Paul McCartney, Elton John, George Michael, Madonna, and many more, and a script from John O’Farrell, this show is a vibrant, emotional time machine that transports you back to July 13, 1985—the day music changed the world.

Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical is the electrifying new musical that premiered at London’s Old Vic before transferring to the West End. It tells the unforgettable story of Live Aid, the iconic 1985 charity concert that united the world’s biggest rock and pop stars to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. With a soundtrack made up of songs performed by artists at Live Aid, the show immerses audiences in the heart of that historic day through music, emotion, and powerful storytelling.

The musical’s cast performs many of these classic anthems as the events of Live Aid unfold, combining beloved hits with the drama behind the scenes. Here are the top 10 standout songs from the show:

Simultaneously held at London’s Wembley Stadium and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the music of Live Aid (with the help of two satellites) brought the world together in 1985.

A record-breaking concert spanning 16 hours (only slightly shorter than the portaloo queue at Glastonbury) raised more than £150 million for famine relief. Now, four decades later, the concert is still considered one of the biggest music events in history.

The mega musical, announced by The Old Vic, features the music from David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and more, is written by best-selling author John O’Farrell and directed by Luke Sheppard. The production will have a strictly limited run from 26 January, so you have plenty of time to refamiliarise yourself with the work of the 70+ artists (?!) that took part in the original gig, and memorise the below fun facts to impress your friends ahead of curtain up!