Just For One Day – Review

Just For One Day: The Old Vic, London

10th January 2024

★★★★

Featuring the songs of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Queen, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, Status Quo, The Boomtown Rats, Diana Ross more, Just For One Day is the story of Live Aid and the people united by it. In a decade of political unrest, social revolution, boom and bust, one moment made the world stand still and brought 1.5 billion people together – and they all have a story to tell about ‘the day rock ‘n’ roll changed the world’. 

Just For One Day is a spectacle. Whether you were there at Live Aid, watched it on TV or just know the Band Aid song when it crops up on the radio each Christmas, this production brings the whole extraordinary event to life. It is cleverly told from a range of people, from Bob Geldof himself (played brilliantly by Craig Els) to the sound techs, the nurses working in the first aid tents, people in the audience and those who were working in Ethiopia itself during some of the worst famines the world has seen. The direction by Luke Sheppard is brilliant allowing the audience to not only feel like they are actually at a stadium concert but also allowing them an in depth look at behind the scenes and how the event came to be.

The simple set by Soutra Gilmour, allows for all of the cast to remain onstage on stadium style seating throughout the show and for the incredible band to be visible at all times. The contemporary costumes (Fay Fullerton) and lyrical, modern choreography (Ebony Molina) along with fresh arrangements of the well-known songs (Matthew Brind) adds a new dynamic to the show and brings it right up to date without losing the retro charm of the 80’s. Howard Hudson’s lighting also works wonderfully to create a sense of being at a huge concert venue at times whilst also managing to transport the audience to the dramatic scenes in Ethiopia.

This production is a true ensemble piece with each member of the 26 strong cast having their chance to shine onstage. Naomi Katiyo is excellent as Jemma, the modern day student who learnt about Live Aid in ‘history’ and wants to continue its legacy. Both Danielle Steers and Ashley Campbell are superb as Marsha and Jim respectively and Julie Atherton brings laughs-a-plenty with her comic take on Margaret Thatcher for which a brand new song ‘Mrs T/Mr G‘ has been written for the show by Bob Geldof. Each member of the cast brings their own unique qualities to the stage whether through incredible vocals, clever choreography or their characters backstory. Running throughout the production is the story of Suzanne (Jackie Clune and Hope Kenna) who the audience see both in 2024 and as a student in 1985, desperate to be part of the ground breaking concert. This clever storyline weaves throughout the show bringing it together and making it more than just a retelling of an important historical event in music but also highlighting the real purpose of the show – bringing power to the people. It is a celebration of what people can achieve.

At times Just For One Day is heart breaking, at others it is hilarious. It is a joyous production which brings the story of Live Aid to life whilst also reminding us that sadly these issues such as poverty, famine, war and death is still happening today. Just For One Day is more than a jukebox musical, in fact given the clever musical arrangements some of the songs feel almost brand new and bring new meaning to the lyrics. Considering the production has so many hit songs it doesn’t focus on the music, but instead on the true focus behind Live Aid in the first place – helping others in a time of need. This is a uplifting musical, full of laugh-out-loud moments and incredible music – grab a ticket whilst you still can!

Just For One Day plays at The Old Vic until the 30th March 2024. For information and tickets click here. 10% from the sale of all tickets will be donated directly to The Band Aid Charitable Trust. 

Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan