Summer Night Of Musicals
August 13th 2026
We're excited to announce we are co-producing an exciting evening of musical theatre at on open air event in beautiful Shibden Park. In conjunction with CultureDale, we are creating a magical summers evening event with West End stars Emma Williams, Laura Pick, Ben Forster and Joel Montague. More info to be announced soon.
In the meantime check out the event's page for info about booking tickets!
Artists Announced so far...
Laura Pick
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre: ‘Elphaba’ in Wicked (Apollo Victoria, London & UK Tour), Standby Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria, London), Dr Osgood (London), Anyone Can Whistle (London), Understudy Maria in The Sound Of Music (Regents Park, London). Other Work includes: Magic Of The Musicals (Royal Albert Hall), Big Night Of Musicals (BBC), Blue Peter (BBC), The Show Must Go On (Palace Theatre, London), lead vocalist for Belinda King Creative Productions, So This Is Christmas (UK Tour) The Songs Of My life: An Evening with Peter Polycarpou (Garrick Theatre, London).
Laura writes: “I’m delighted to be heading home to Yorkshire to perform at such a wonderful and exciting event”
Emma Williams
Madge Hardwick in Top Hat (UK and International Tour), Peg in Scissorhandz (Southwark Playhouse), Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music (Chichester Festival Theatre), Princess Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk (Manchester Opera House), Pam in The Good Enough Mum’s Club (UK Concert Tour), Emma in Memories of the Musicals (Kilworth), Betty Haynes in White Christmas (Leicester Curve), Paula Pokrifki in An Officer and The Gentleman (Leicester Curve/UK tour), Alice in Dick Whittington (London Palladium), Betty Haynes in White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Rebecca/Angela in Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Criterion Theatre), A Spoonful of Sherman (St James Studio), Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello), Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Royal Festival Hall), Christine Keeler in A Model Girl (Greenwich), Kat in Tomorrow Morning (New End), Fran Kubelik in Promises, Promises (Sheffield Crucible), Ellie Brookes in Sex, Chips & Rock 'n' Roll (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Shelley Parker in Bat Boy (West Yorkshire Playhouse and Shaftesbury) amongst others.
Ben Forster
Ben Forster’s career spans the West End, international arena tours, orchestral concerts, and television. He trained at the Italia Conti Performing Arts Academy in London, where he developed the vocal technique and dramatic grounding that would underpin his work in musical theatre. His early journey from Sunderland schoolboy to professional performer was documented in the BBC1 primetime TV show The Dream Academy, which followed Ben at Italia Conti academy and introduced Ben to a national audience.
Ben quickly established himself in the theatre world, appearing in a range of West End productions and tours. His stage credits include La Cava, Grease (West End and international tour), Lennon and McCartney’s All You Need Is Love, and Evita, as well as being part of the original cast of the long-running West End hit Thriller Live. He has also played Brad Majors in the special celebrity West End run of The Rocky Horror Show and took on the title role of Buddy in Elf the Musical in the West End.
Ben came to wider public prominence in 2012 when he won ITV1’s Superstar, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s televised search for a performer to play Jesus in the rock arena musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Selected from thousands of hopefuls, Ben led the arena production across the UK and Australia. The show was screened live in cinemas around the world, released as a best-selling DVD, and continues to be broadcast internationally, marking a major turning point in his career.
In February 2016, Ben was cast as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End, one of the most demanding and iconic roles in musical theatre. He led the production during its 30th anniversary year, when the show received an Olivier Award and widespread critical acclaim. Ben has since returned to the role on several occasions, including performances across Europe originating the new international touring production and Tokyo in Ken Hill’s original The Phantom of the Opera, and most recently leading the world tour in Singapore.
Alongside his theatre work, Ben has developed a strong profile as a concert and recording artist. He has performed solo concerts in the UK and Japan, headlining sold-out shows in London’s West End and touring internationally. He has appeared with major orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the BSO & the BBC Concert Orchestra and has been a regular performer at the Royal Albert Hall.
In 2021, Ben produced and starred in The Best of the West End, the concert that reopened the Royal Albert Hall following the COVID-19 lockdown, marking a symbolic moment for the return of live performance. He has also presented and performed in BBC Radio 2 broadcasts from the venue, including Sunday Night Is Music Night. During the pandemic, the filmed version of Jesus Christ Superstar was released online by Universal Pictures and Andrew Lloyd Webber as part of a global initiative to provide free entertainment, reaching millions of viewers worldwide.
Recent highlights include touring Europe with Disney 100, performing at the Royal Variety Show for the Prince and Princess of Wales, the BBC Proms and continuing to appear in major concert and theatrical productions across the world. In 2025, Ben fulfilled a long-held ambition by recording his orchestral album, Musicals Greatest Hits, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, further cementing his reputation as a leading voice in musical theatre.
Joel Montague
Joel Montague is a British musical theatre actor, singer, and performer best known for his work in London’s West End. Recognised for his comic timing, strong vocals, and energetic stage presence, he has appeared in a wide range of major musicals in the UK and internationally. Montague grew up in the North-West of England and
developed an interest in performing from a young age, initially dancing at his mother’s dance school and taking part in local theatre and school productions. He later trained in musical theatre at the
Guildford School of Acting, one of the UK’s leading drama schools. After graduating, Montague built a reputation as a versatile stage performer. His West End and touring theatre credits include Ogie in
Waitress (Adelphi Theatre); Eddie Ryan in Funny Girl (Savoy Theatre / Menier Chocolate Factory. Whatsonstage Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical); Mendel in Falsettos (The Other
Palace); Amos Hart in Chicago (UK tour); covered & played Dewey Finn in School of Rock. He’s also appeared in shows such as The Producers, Urinetown, Sister Act, The Rocky Horror Show, and Billy
Elliot. Internationally, he performed as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls at Théâtre Marigny in Paris.
In recent years, Joel portrayed King George III in the West End production of Hamilton for over two years and later originated the role of George Wilson in the musical adaptation of The Great Gatsby in
London. In 2025 he starred as Buddy in the West End revival of Elf the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. Beyond theatre, Montague has appeared on television in shows such as Girlfriends and Girls in Love,
and has experience in voiceover, commercials, and radio presenting. Montague married West End performer and author Carrie Hope Fletcher and they welcomed a daughter in 2024. Joel is widely regarded as one of the West End’s most engaging character actors, known for combining humour, warmth, and strong musical theatre
skills across a wide variety of productions.