West End charity initiative returns to the stage.
In its second ever edition, West End Unscripted makes a welcome return to the stage. This time taking place in the Gillian Lynne Theatre with icon of the stage Derek Jacobi as guest of honour. Produced by Tegan Summer, the Q&A series gathers groups of acting luminaries in order to raise a minimum of £10,000 pounds for charity each night. Hosted by Sean Foley and moderated by Richard Clifford, this evening also features two co-stars of Jacobi with Daniel Evans and Pippa Bennet-Warner joining in on the conversation.
It’s a casual affair, an unfiltered chat over a few drinks, albeit in front of a packed house. The conversation ranges from discussions of big breaks, famous faces behaving badly in
rehearsals and the power of Shakespeare. While lighthearted, there is an undoubted
magnetic pull from these thespians off duty, Jacobi keeps us particularly rapt with anecdotes of run-ins ranging from Laurence Olivier to Queen Margrethe of Denmark.
What particularly stands out is the element of luck, of being at the right place and right time.
Jacobi insists, despite his evident talents, that it was the good fortune of being seen by the director of the Birmingham Rep early in his career that led to a contract — which in itself led to that encounter with Olivier. The rest is history.
The charities are different in each edition, with participants selecting causes that matter to them. Jacobi, as guest of honour, dedicated £10,000 to Afasic and REACT, which assists with speech therapy and care for children with terminal illnesses respectively. The initiative of West End Unscripted provides audiences not only with an evening among the stars, but the opportunity to contribute towards something truly important.
As a very special treat, we were left with Jacobi’s reading of Prospero’s final speech from
Shakespeare’s The Tempest. His colleagues throughout the evening praise his mastery of the bard’s text, but seeing it in action makes for an exhilarating moment that sends us floating home. West End Unscripted is certainly an event to keep tabs on, not only for its curious insights and jovial atmosphere, but for the essential fundraising it provides.