Ben Hur Live is the newest arena show to hit the stage at the O2 Arena in London. Performances will open on September 17th and continue through September 20th at which point the production has a long list of cities to hit on its tour including Lisbon, Vienna, Paris, Barcelona, Munich, Hamburg, Budapest, Berlin, Madrid, and a few more.
Ben Hur Live was originally written by Shaun McKenna and features music from The Police drummer Stewart Copeland who has also worked on many notable TV shows such as Desperate Housewives and many movies .
Not only does the arena staging have 400 performers in the cast, but it also will feature many live animals, over 100 actually including ponies, eagles, horses, falcons, and more horses. In fact, as part of the production the great chariot race will be recreated on the stage with five quadrigas (chariots drawn by four horses) competing around the floor of the arena.
It has taken 15 years to develop the arena version of the show which handily enough will premiere to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the film release of Ben Hur.
The show will not spare any special features with sound, light, pyrotechnics, water, and wind throughout the film on a giant water wall. Not only have the cast members been practicing arduously for the show, but a team of thoroughbred horses have spent 12 months training for opening day.
The show which is produced by Franz Abraham will be directed by the director of The Boy From Oz, Phillip Wm. McKinley. Design is by Mark Fisher and Liam Steel is behind the choreography. Additionally, lighting is under the control of Patrick Woodrooffe and Ann Hould-Ward is the costume head.
Abraham stated that audiences can expect to receive everything from the show as it is simply a musical immersed in theatrics that has the visual effects of a film and the energy of a rock concert
