Rating: ★★★★
Venue: Vaudeville Theatre, London
Cast: Kerry Ellis and special guests
Four leading stars of the West End and Broadway will perform exclusive Westway Concerts at the Vaudeville Theatre: Lee Mead, Cassidy Janson, Kerry Ellis and Aimie Atkinson. The series opens with TV and West End star Lee Mead, who brings his brand-new show The Best of Me to the Vaudeville. Next up is Oliver Award winner Cassidy Janson (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, & Juliet), followed by Kerry Ellis (Wicked, We Will Rock You) with her much talked about show Queen of the West End. And finally, Aimie Atkinson (SIX, Pretty Woman) returns to the West End to perform songs from her new album as well as career defining hits.
The Vaudeville Theatre hosted the Queen of the West End, Kerry Ellis, on Easter Monday for a Westway Session—and she did not disappoint. It truly felt as though she had invited the audience into her home for an intimate and raw PowerPoint night, singing along as we journeyed through her career—just as she intended.
Promising an intimate, nostalgic, and interactive concert, the evening felt like a heartfelt love letter to her 25-year career, spanning plays, podcasts, albums, the West End, Broadway, books, and more. Complete with a PowerPoint presentation, personal anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes stories, the show offered a touching insight into her rise to stardom. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her work, this evening catered for everyone.
Each song was introduced with a story—be it an audition tale, a childhood memory, a funny moment while performing, or clips and photos—adding emotional context and deepening the audience's connection to the material. Kerry performed a variety of songs from early in her career to more recent work, including tracks from her album Kings and Queens, “Tomorrow” from Annie, a fun Queen medley with audience interaction, a My Fair Lady medley, “Always Starting Over” from If/Then, “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables, and a beautifully pared-down version of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.
Having formed a close professional relationship—and friendship—with the legendary Brian May of Queen, their collaborations featured heavily. A particular highlight was a video of Brian playing guitar to “Love of My Life” while Kerry sang live alongside the footage, creating a beautiful and moving moment.
Another standout was Kerry recognising the many opportunities she’s been given throughout her time in the industry and the importance of giving back. She invited her student Cat and guitarist Joe to the stage, where they wowed the crowd with “Heart of Stone” from Six: The Musical and an original song. She also welcomed family friend Ollie to perform a touching rendition of “As Long As You’re Mine” from Wicked.
Kerry closed the night with a mash up of “Never Enough” and “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman, as a video montage of her career played behind her—a fitting finale to an evening full of heart, talent, and celebration that got the audience singing along.
She was supported by Dan Glover on piano, covering and playing arrangements for MD Craig Adams. The only minor downside—particularly in the first act—was the use of backtracking and pre-recorded backing vocals. At times, they detracted from the otherwise intimate, live feel of the performance, especially in a setting so personal and stripped-back.
The beauty of a show like this lies in the performer’s ability to read and respond to the audience in real time. And seeing Kerry make the most of this, even when the crowd's energy occasionally lagged (perhaps due to the long Easter weekend and too much chocolate!), was a joy.
She heads back out on tour with her show Queen of the West End in September 2025, so if you’re lucky enough to have her stopping near you, don’t hesitate to get your tickets. Kerry has shared that her love of touring comes from the people she meets—those who run the theatres with care and passion, and the joy of connecting with fans, hearing their stories, and sharing in their love of theatre.
Kerry Ellis truly is the Queen of the West End—not just for her immense talent, but for the genuine humility and down-to-earth warmth she brings to every moment of this show.
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