Big Night goes arena
Big Night Of Musicals was filmed at Manchester’s AO Arena — a 12,000‑seat spectacle hosted by Jason Manford that blended West End stars, youth groups, and lottery‑funding advocacy. Sam Ryder pivoted toward musical theatre with a powerhouse 'Gethsemane' and signaled an upcoming West End headline turn, while Alexandra Burke said she felt ‘sick’ performing to the arena crowd. ( )
The BBC will broadcast a 90‑minute highlights special of the event on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday 28 March 2026 at 19:45. (whatsonstage.com: ) The live show was recorded on 26 January 2026. (musicaltheatrereview.com: ) Sam Ryder’s arena performance of “Gethsemane” was promoted as a world‑exclusive moment at the concert. (manchestereveningnews.co.uk: ) Ryder is confirmed to make his West End debut as Jesus in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium in a strictly limited 11‑week season running 20 June–5 September 2026. (andrewlloydwebber.com: ) Alexandra Burke is due to star as Chaka Khan in I’m Every Woman at the Peacock Theatre in a limited West End engagement from 5–28 March 2026. (londontheatre.co.uk: ) Burke also unveiled a large Manchester mural tied to the National Lottery’s milestone of £700 million funding for arts and cultural organisations across Greater Manchester. (manchestereveningnews.co.uk: ) Organisers billed this as the fifth Big Night of Musicals, assembling 11 West End and touring shows on the bill — including Miss Saigon, The Producers, Wicked, The Lion King, Oliver!, Paddington and Sunny Afternoon — to showcase Lottery‑funded theatre. (manchestertheatres.com: ) (musicaltheatrereview.com: ) The event framed a long‑term funding story: National Lottery players have backed more than 29,000 theatre projects with in excess of £1.4 billion over 31 years, while AO Arena ticketing required proof of a National Lottery purchase, allowed up to four free tickets per player with a £2 booking fee, and asked attendees to be seated by 19:15 for the 19:30–21:00 programme with no interval. (whatsonstage.com: ) (ao-arena.com: )
