Ruthie Henshall and Wendi Peters have been announced as the initial judges for the fourth annual Right Royal West End Bake Off.
It’s become a bit of a West End institution over the years with the casts from London shows each entering a home baked, exuberantly decorated cake hoping it will be judged the best.
It’s a fun way for you to meet theatre stars, help raise money for some very worthy causes and... eat cake!
This year there will be entries from the performers in HAMILTON, MAMMA MIA, EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, THE BOOK OF MORMON, CHESS and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN with more to be announced.
It’ll all take place on Saturday 19 May at St Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ED from 11am – 1pm leaving plenty of time for audiences and actors to get ready for their matinee performances.
Saturday 19th May is the same day His Royal Highness Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle. So expect lots of the cakes to have a Royal Wedding theme! What better way to celebrate!
As reported in yesterday morning’s press release -
Ruthie Henshall said today “I’m so thrilled to be judging for the first time in this year’s right royal West End Bake Off. Not only is it such a special event that brings the West End together, to celebrate the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the same day, means it will be an extra special year. It’s also so wonderful to see that even after 8 shows a week the backstage teams and performers are able to find time to put effort towards raising money for Acting for Others.”
West End Bake Off is being held in aid of Acting for Others, a fundraising organisation for 15 UK theatrical and welfare charities.
For those unable to attend the event, Acting for Others can still be supported by donating at its Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/ctcafo
West End Bake Off is supported by Official London Theatre.
These charities are:
Actors’ Children’s Trust
Actors’ Children’s Trust funds the children of professional actors, from birth to graduation. We consider grants for childcare, sports, music and activities, special needs assessments and support, kit and clothing, transport, school trips and student grants.
Dancers’ Career Development
A dancer's working life is so soon over – no other career demands so much and is over so quickly.
Dancers’ Career Development (DCD) is a registered charity, which supports all professional dancers in the UK, from all genres, to make the transition from professional dancing to a new career.
The Dance Professionals Fund
The Dance Professionals Fund (the working name of the Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund) aims to support people in the dance world throughout their lives, including into retirement. The charity helps professional dancers, choreographers and choreologists, as well as dance teachers from a range of different dance disciplines. Be it illness, injury, financial or personal difficulties, the Dance Professionals Fund (DPF) is there to help.
Denville Hall
Denville Hall is a residential, nursing and dementia care home for elderly members of the theatrical profession.
Drury Lane Theatrical Fund
To give help to subscribers and where possible to performers and stage management who have worked at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Equity Charitable Trust
Since its inception in 1989, the Equity Charitable Trust has helped myriad industry professionals retrain, re-qualify and obtain valuable new skill sets for those wanting to leave the profession or develop a second income stream. In addition to the educational arm, it offers one-off welfare grants to industry members who are experiencing a health or professional setback.
Evelyn Norris Trust
The Evelyn Norris Trust was established in 1968 to provide holiday and respite grants to members of the concert and theatrical professions who are convalescing or need a longed-for break.
Grand Order of Water Rats Charities Fund
The Grand Order of Water Rats Charities Fund is a show business charity brotherhood, established in 1889 by a small group of well-known music hall performers with the motto “Philanthropy, Conviviality and Sociability”! Its aim is to have fun whilst staging events which would raise funds to support fellow artists who were struggling.
International Performers’ Aid Trust
IPAT’s aim is to relieve acute poverty amongst people in the performing arts in the world at large.
King George V Fund for Actors and Actresses
The King George V Fund awards grants to British actors and actresses whose service to their profession merits recognition and who would benefit from a grant.
Ralph and Meriel Richardson Foundation
The Foundation was established by Lady Meriel (Mu) Richardson after the untimely death of the Richardsons' only son, Charles, to relieve the need, hardship or distress of British actors and actresses (and their spouses and children) who, after a long and established contribution to the theatrical arts, find themselves in less fortunate circumstances.
The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund
The charity provides confidential advice, support and financial assistance to those past and present employees of the Royal Opera House and Birmingham Royal Ballet and their dependants who are in need and deserve help.
The Royal Theatrical Fund
The Royal Theatrical Fund provides support for people of all ages who have worked in the entertainment industry. They are people in need as a result of illness, accident or old age.
Theatre Chaplaincy UK
Theatre Chaplaincy UK provides pastoral and practical support to people of all faiths and none who are engaged in the performing arts.
The Theatrical Guild
The Theatrical Guild is dedicated to supporting those who work backstage and front of house in theatres across the UK, including light and sound technicians, wardrobe assistants, costume designers, stage managers, box office staff and ushers. It offers a variety of support to those in need of help including financial assistance, sponsorship for education / re-training within the industry, and access to counselling, etc.
English National Opera have just announced an exciting new season for their home venue, the vast and majestic Coliseum Theatre on St Martins Lane, in the West End.