Celebrate The Beatles’ 50th anniversary at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, where the musical ‘Let It Be’ begins its run on September 14, 2012. The musical showcases more than 20 of The Beatles greatest hits performed live onstage by the Prince of Wales Theatre company and supported by a dizzying array of multimedia techniques, all of it highlighting the band’s evolution from party band to global superstars.
Fifty years ago, in a dark and foggy 1962, pop music’s greatest quartet (and Liverpool’s greatest product) was born at the 17th annual dance for a horticultural society. The band had just replaced their drummer and had barely two hours to practice before they were expected to get those gardeners dancing to rock ‘n’ roll tunes. A turn out two hours was all that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr needed to form a cohesive musical unit, one whose legacy would last longer than the band ever could.
Today their songs are considered classics – often remade and reinterpreted by every new generation of pop star. You can hear the influence of “Love Me Do” or “A Hard Day’s Night” in many catchy radio smash hits. You can even sense the similarities of the drawn-out ending of “Hey Jude” or the psychedelic ambiance of “Strawberry Fields Forever” in many post-rock experiments of cutting-edge bands. The Beatles were able to create timeless music and keep improving that music as they matured in their song writing and in their worldview.
The historic Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End will be ground zero for reliving all the excitement of The Beatles music. When the curtains are drawn for Let It Be, theatre-goers will once again experience the electric energy of a live performance by the Fab Four.
The Prince of Wales Theatre on Coventry Street has a long and colourful history of showcasing cutting-edge talent and unique shows ever since it first opened its doors in January of 1884. Today, the Prince of Wales Theatre is owned by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who completed a total renovation in 2004 and brought the historical building into the 21st century with its increased seating capacity and modern fixtures.
