WEST End stars will join senior students from a top theatre school for an evening of entertainment certain to enthral all ages.

Stars set to grace the stage of Christchurch’s Regent Centre include vastly-experienced leading man Nigel Richards and Mamma Mia star Helen Hobson.

The event has been organised to raise money for the Big Little Theatre School and students from its Professional Development Programme will be performing, as will former students who now work in theatre.

Big Little is a not-for-profit organisation which offers its students the opportunity to tread the boards in professional theatres as part of their training. Nigel’s impressive list of credits includes playing The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s, Enjoiras in Les Miserables and stints in Napoleon, As You Like It, and Songs From A Hotel Bedroom.

He is a regular soloist at the Proms, toured the world with Marianne Faithful in The Black Rider and headlined with Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn at the Barbican.

Nigel is head of acting through song at the renowned Arts Ed in Chiswick and recently worked with Big Little students as they prepared for Broadway Showtunes at Bournemouth’s Pavilion in July.

He told the Daily Echo: “It’s going to be a great night and hopefully will raise lots of money for Big Little, which is a fantastic organisation.”

He said he is impressed by the training offered by Big Little and said fundraising is vital to stop such theatre schools becoming elitist.

“I directed part of their show in the summer and they are a fantastic bunch,” he added.

West End and Broadway Songbook will take place at the Regent Centre on Sunday, November 16 and tickets cost £16, £14 concessions.

Contact the box office on 01202 499199.