Matt Henry MBE unites West End stars for THE ACTORS HOUSE CHRISTMAS SONGBOOK
Olivier Award-winning Matt Henry MBE, star of The Devil Wears Prada, will host a joyful evening of musical theatre and festive favourites as The Actors House Christmas Songbook comes to London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre on 7 December.
Joining him will be the crème de la crème of West End talent including Olivier Award-winning Beverley Knight MBE (Sylvia, Memphis The Musical), Jess Folley (Les Misérables, Burlesque), and Oliver Tompsett (The Greatest Showman, Wicked), with further names to be announced.
The concert will raise funds for The Actors House, founded by Matt Henry, to provide safe, high-quality and affordable accommodation for touring actors and creatives across the UK who often find themselves staying in unsafe and unsuitable accommodation. Inspired by Henry’s own early touring experiences, The Actors House was founded in 2025 to create change, offering welcoming, affordable places to stay where the touring community can feel safe and supported.
The Actors House Christmas Songbook will celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with 12 acts, with all money raised going to help fund the organisation’s next ‘house’. Audiences can expect big West End numbers, festive favourites and plenty of sparkle, making for a feel-good night of celebration. This inaugural concert aims to establish the Songbook as an ongoing fundraising event, uniting the touring theatre community.
For young actors and creatives, the cost of somewhere safe to stay can make accepting a touring job financially unviable, with accommodation allowances often falling short of what is needed. The Actors House’s first property, The Bradford House, has already demonstrated the demand: with just seven bedrooms, it has been consistently fully booked.
Olivier Award-winning actor and Founder of The Actors House, Matt Henry MBE, said: “Touring actors often pay for two homes: their permanent residence and the one they need on tour. Unlike most professionals who travel for work, actors are having to use their living wage to subsidise their accommodation. For performers spending weeks at a time away from home, rising costs can make touring roles unaffordable, and we risk losing a generation of talent before their careers have begun. The Actors House is working to change that.
“This December, I’m delighted to be joined by some of our most recognisable and talented performers for The Actors House Christmas Songbook, which will showcase the magic of theatre and raise awareness of the growing crisis facing our touring community.”
Alongside its established stars, The Actors House Christmas Songbook will create opportunities for emerging talent to share the spotlight and gain practical experience. The event offers young performers the chance to provide backing vocals, emerging musicians to join the live band, and internships across the production team.
With tickets ranging from £30 to £120, all proceeds will go towards The Actors House. Bringing together some of Theatreland’s favourite performers, emerging talent and audiences for a festive celebration, the evening will help build a lasting legacy for the touring theatre community.
Tickets will go on sale 19 October at 10am, with further info here.
