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Spend a couple of hours ‘Up West’ with Radio 2 as we celebrate the very best of musical theatre and film.

Freddie Tapner conducts the London Musical Theatre Orchestra with guests – Ramin Karimloo, Ruthie Henshall, Ben Forster, Mazz Murray, Layton Williams, Marisha Wallace, Lauren Samuels, Matthew Croke, Ben Haenow and Frederike Krum.

The West End - lies west of the ancient square mile of the City of London - and has been the centre of theatre excellence for more than 350 years(that's 90 years longer than Broadway - if you're counting). Spectacle, excitement, innovation, tragedy, comedy, all-singing, all-dancing - the West End boasts 38 theatres and attracts more than 15 million theatre goers a year. Back in the 17th century the area was safely upwind of the smoke, smog and smells of the river and sewers. The air was cleaner. It became fashionable and trendy. It became the place to be seen. As the rich and elite moved in and built their fine houses around Covent Garden, Soho and Piccadilly – so sprung up shops, coffee houses, theatres, music halls and even shadier entertainments.

Thomas Killigrew lay the foundations of London’s first theatre – the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1663. Samuel Pepys was a regular punter and it was here rumour has it Charles II first set eyes on the actress Nell Gwyn. Today, that theatre is owned by the great musical theatre composer and impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber and without doubt we'll hear some of his music tonight.

Tonight’s concert features music from Mamma Mia!, Everyone's Talking About Jamie, Hairspray, Rent, Company, Aladdin Dreamgirls and the West End’s longest running musical – Les Miserables.

Recorded 9th March - Royal Albert Hall. Photo copyright The Alpha Club Ltd