Following the success of the U.K.’s first musical theatre convention in both 2022 and 2023, MusicalCon will return in 2024. Being held at London’s ExCeL Centre on October 19th and 20th 2024, the annual convention of the world’s most renowned musical theatre talent is set to bring the musical theatre community together again in a celebration unrivalled by anything that has come before.
Organised principally by Shanay Holmes (Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Miss Saigon), who has become known as the ‘Mother of MusicalCon’, the annual event showcases a range of past, present and future West End shows and the performers behind them. The event also features a range of events and panels from figures at the forefront of musical theatre, from performers to producers, including representative panels, behind-the-scenes insights and Q&A opportunities.
This year’s event featured performances from Shanay Holmes and an array of MusicalCon ambassadors, including Aimie Atkinson (SIX, Pretty Woman), Alice Fearn (Come From Away, Wicked), Miriam Teak Lee (& Juliet, Hamilton) and Layton Williams (Rent, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Strictly Come Dancing 2023), each of whom were among the plethora of performers available for photo and autograph opportunities within the event. The convention also featured a reunion of figures behind the musical Heathers, performance and cosplay competitions and a small army of small businesses selling their stagey products. With over 100 special guests, 140 hours of programming and 10,000 attendees, MusicalCon has something for everyone!
MusicalCon 2023 was widely praised for addressing feedback from the 2022 event, with a wider space being used, the event being made more accessible for those with disabilities or who are neurodivergent, and the use of British Sign Language interpreters at the majority of their main stage and panel events.
With MusicalCon having gone from strength to strength in its first two years, it looks as though 2024 may be the event’s best year yet, with the announcement of next year’s convention coming less than two weeks after MusicalCon 2023 ended. If the previous two years are anything to go by, 2024 is destined for even greater feats and another spectacular event next autumn.
MusicalCon 2024 will return to London’s ExCeL Centre on October 19th and 20th 2024. Tickets are available here. See our page for Forge Press’ coverage of MusicalCon 2023
