Just For One Day

Just For One Day tickets
Be transported back to the day that music changed the world in this huge new jukebox musical, featuring songs from David Bowie, Elton John, Paul Weller, U2, Queen, Diana Ross and more. The story of Live Aid, as told by the people who witnessed it, comes to the stage in vivid detail, directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, The Little Big Things) and starring a cast of 26. Relive a once-in-a-lifetime moment with tickets to Just For One Day's world premiere at the Old Vic Theatre.
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Booking until 30 March 2024

Box Office Contacts

Box Office:0344 871 7628
Access Booking:0344 871 7628
Group Booking:0344 871 7628
Stage Door:020 7928 2651

History

Originally named the Royal Coburg Theatre, then the Royal Victoria Hall, the venue finally became the Old Vic Theatre in the 1890's. First built in 1818, the theatre had an early affinity with Shakespeare, with theatre owner George Bolwell presenting six varying Shakespeare texts in six nights. Some 80 years later in 1912, new owner Lilian Baylis also heavily encouraged the Bard in the theatre's repertoire.

In 1929, the Old Vic Company was established, steered by prolific actor John Gielgud. Over the years, the company produced and performed their own work at the theatre, whilst Baylis was creating the early Sadler’s Wells dance company, rotating ballet and drama between both venues until dance finally relocated to Sadler's Wells in 1935.

After suffering bomb damage during the Second World War, the theatre was closed until 1950 and toured the UK instead. In the 1960's the Old Vic Theatre Company dissolved, with the National Theatre Company taking its place and performing at the venue between 1963 and 1976, when the National Theatre opened on South Bank. During this time, the company performed The Tempest (1974) and a fantastical production inspired by the Shakespeare text, entitled Midnight Mushrumps (1974).

Following the departure of the National Theatre Company, the Old Vic closed its doors for over ten years, reopening in 1985 and establishing its roots in classic drama and new writing. In 2011, acclaimed actor Kevin Spacey became the venue's artistic director, shooting the theatre onto the scene of the West End by guaranteeing continuous high-quality drama. Early productions in the first 2011 season included Terence Rattigan's Cause Celebre, directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Anne-Marie Duff, Shakespeare's Richard III, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Kevin Spacey, The Playboy of the Western World and Noises Off, directed by Lindsay Posner and starring Celia Imrie.

2012 saw Jamie Lloyd direct a production of The Duchess of Malfi, starring Eve Best, Democracy, Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, starring Sheridan Smith and a revival of Kiss Me, Kate, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Stephen Mear. After a year of successful theatre, the Old Vic continued into 2013 with shows including Rattigan's The Winslow Boy, directed by Lindsay Posner, Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth, starring Kim Catrall, Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Mark Rylance and starring James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave, and Fortune's Fool.

After Much Ado was met with lukewarm reception, Spacey reverted back to serious dramas, including Other Desert Cities, Clarence Darrow, The Crucible and Electra, starring Kristin Scott Thomas in the title role. 2015 saw Spacey's last year at the venue, stepping down after presenting Tree, Clarence Darrow and musical High Society, directed by Maria Friedman.

Matthew Warchus took over as artistic director, featuring and directing productions such as Future Conditional, starring Rob Brydon, The Hairy Ape, starring Bertie Carvel, Dr Seuss's The Lorax, The Master Builder, starring Ralph Fiennes, The Caretaker, starring Timothy Spall, Daniel Mays and George Mackay, Jekyll and Hyde, by Drew McOnie and the ground-breaking new Tim Minchin musical Groundhog Day.

Warchus' 2017 season featured Beckett's No's Knife, with Lisa Dwan, Glenda Jackson in King Lear, Yasmina Reza's Art, starring Rufus Sewell, Tim Key and Paul Ritter, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Joshua McGuire, Woyzeck in a new translation by Jack Thorne, starring John Boyega, Girl from the North Country, featuring music and lyrics by Bob Dylan and Dr Seuss's The Lorax. Rhys Ifans rounded off the season, starring in Jack Thorne's adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

2018 began with a London premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's new play The Divide, followed by a brand new season that sees Penelope Wilton in Fanny & Alexander, as well as productions of Mood Music, A Monster Calls and SylviaAndrew Scott returns to star in Sea Wall for a strictly limited two-week season, followed by the debut of Emma Rice's theatre company, with an adaptation of Angela Carter's Wise ChildrenRhys Ifans returns in A Christmas Carol at the end of the year.

In 2019, Arthur Miller play All My Sons will play at the theatre in April, featuring a star cast. Sally Field, Jenna Coleman, and Colin Morgan all star. In June, Noel Coward's play Present Laughter will be performed, starring Andrew Scott. This will be followed by new Lucy Prebble play A Very Expensive Poison, and Lungs, starring Matt Smith and Claire Foy. Closing the year, Jack Thorne's A Christmas Carol returned to the venue just in time for the holiday season.

In 2020, the Old Vic saw Daniel Radcliffe and Alan Cumming star in Beckett double-bill Endgame and Rough for Theatre II. Academy Award-nominee Timothee Chalamet was scheduled to make his London stage debut in Amy Herzog's 4000 Miles at the theatre in April, alongside stage icon Eileen Atkins but this was cancelled due to COVID-19 and scheduling conflicts.

In 2023, Groundhog Day played a second hugely popular season at the theatre, and A Christmas Carol returned to the Old Vic for the festive season, with Christopher Eccleston starring as Scrooge.

The 2024 season at the Old Vic starts with the world premiere of the jukebox musical Just For One Day in February, telling the story of Live Aid through the eyes of people who saw it first-hand.

Past Shows

A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
(closed 6 Jan 2024)
4000 Miles
4000 Miles
(closed 23 May 2021)
Local Hero
Local Hero
(closed 22 Aug 2020)

 
Endgame
Endgame
(closed 28 Mar 2020)
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
(closed 18 Jan 2020)
Lungs
Lungs
(closed 9 Nov 2019)

 
A Very Expensive Poison
A Very Expensive Poison
(closed 5 Oct 2019)
Present Laughter
Present Laughter
(closed 10 Aug 2019)
All My Sons
All My Sons
(closed 8 Jun 2019)

 
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
(closed 19 Jan 2019)
Wise Children
Wise Children
(closed 10 Nov 2018)
Sylvia
Sylvia
(closed 22 Sep 2018)