Just For One Day at the Old Vic

As its referential title suggests, those familiar with the 16-hour-long benefit behemoth Live Aid are guaranteed a rich and comprehensive display in the contained runtime of this conscious and witty concert retelling, directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet, The Little Big Things). Whether one experienced firsthand the captivating events of 13^th July 1985 or not, the world premiere of Sheppard’s latest work is stunning jukebox musical fare that packs a punch. A spirited tribute to the magic of the mid-80s MTV wave, fans of David Bowie, Ultravox, The Police and Sade to name a few, will not be disappointed.

From the satirical mind of writer John O’Farrell (Mrs Doubtfire, Something Rotten), Just For One Day chronicles the tale of Live Aid from inception to execution with multigenerational bravado. Horrified by BBC coverage of the Ethiopian famine, The Boomtown Rats’s sweary Bob Geldof (Craige Els) sets off on a philanthropic mission to “feed the world”. With anecdotal prowess comes Band-Aid’s chaotic recording of Do They Know It’s Christmas?, to an unprecedented plethora of comical standoffs with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Julie Atherton). Both Els and Atherton are standouts in their respective roles, crafting a balancing act between characterised self-deprecation and open defiance to division.

Albeit difficult to divert attention away from the honourable celebrity persona of Geldof taking centre stage for the storytelling majority, attempts to hammer home a message of solidarity in the stamping out of human suffering are consistent. Interspersed throughout are Geldof’s interactions with a Red Cross aid worker named Amara (Abiona Omonua), poignantly challenging the lasting impressions of Live Aid to those at the epicentre of struggle. Time-jumping to 2024, Gen Z-er Jemma (Naomi Katiyo) speaks to the youth of today with tongue-in-cheek delivery, through the contesting of white saviour complexes and the novelty of charity singles. The fundraising efforts and concert testimonies of public devotees, such as Suzanne (Jackie Clune, Hope Kenna) and Tim (Joe Edgar), also have a significant part to play.

Particularly impressive is Soutra Gilmour’s exercise in set design. Interchangeable elevated staging and live video projection, courtesy of Andrzej Goulding, appropriately mimic original Live Aid structures with a live band accompaniment capturing the thrill and adrenalin of intimate concert spaces. Each stylised, soaring musical number, although lingering and lengthy at times, does plenty to carry the immersive experience of this momentous slice of pop culture history. Look out for Freddie Love in the guise of Freddie Mercury, helming a shining reinterpretation of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Danielle Steers and Ashley Campbell are two vocal powerhouses as Marsha and Jim, characters representing Live Aid’s behind-the-scenes operations.

“Together is political” – a second-act exclamation from Els encapsulates the entire production. Devastating affairs in the Middle East immediately spring to mind. Comprising a cast of 26, Just For One Day manages to avoid dated era tropes with timely sensibility and educational capability. Highlighting the everlasting power in joint acts of compassion and comradery, it lingers with one major takeaway: we can all be heroes.

Douglas Jardim
Images: Manuel Harlan

Just For One Day is at the Old Vic from 26^th January until 30^th March 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.