A special show to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee is being conjured up in a top secret plan from two of the biggest names in musicals.
Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lin-Manuel Miranda - the man behind Hamilton - are reported to be joining forces to collaborate on the idea which will be staged at Windsor Castle later this month and be broadcast on ITV. It has been described as a "once in a lifetime project", the Mirror reports.
The event will feature as part of the Royal Windsor Horse Show scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 15. The show will be broadcast live on ITV - the first programme to mark the Jubilee - from inside the castle.
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Details about the event are scant at the moment with suggestions that cast and crew have been sworn to secrecy about it all. However, sources have told the Mirror that the event will be a "fitting tribute" to Her Majesty's 70-year reign.
ITV has already announced that Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham will be the show's hosts having teamed up to host similar events for ITV during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as well as the Royal Weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It will be called "The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration".
West End icon Lord Lloyd Webber is another guest already confirmed by ITV as being involved with the event, although no official mention has been made of Miranda's participation. Other stars who will be part of the event include Dame Helen Mirren, Hollywood megastar Tom Cruise, Sir David Jason, Ant and Dec, Sir Mo Farah, Adjoa Andoh, Dame Joan Collins, Dame Maureen Lipman, Damian Lewis, Alan Titchmarsh, Dame Kelly Holmes, Moira Stuart and Sir Trevor McDonald.
Speaking to the Mirror, a source said: "All the cast and crew working on the project have been absolutely sworn to secrecy. It’s a hugely intense and passionate project from both composers and will celebrate the incredible history from the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
"One of the main themes both composers wanted to get across and celebrate was the wonderful and rich diversity of Britain and the Commonwealth, of which the Queen is so fond of. The live performance will involve a diverse mix of rich talent from theatreland who are all delighted they can also pay their own special tribute to the Queen."
Optimism remains that Her Majesty will be able to attend the special festival being put on between May 12 and 15 which will focus on her love of horses. Recently, the Queen has been experiencing mobility issues which have forced her to cancel engagements, including an announcement earlier today that she will miss the royal garden party season.
In a press release aboutThe Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration sent last month, ITV added: "The theatrical arena event will include 1,300 performers and 500 horses and is made up of four acts, each overseen by a different event host- confirmed to be Tom Cruise, Damian Lewis, Adjoa Andoh and Alan Titchmarsh respectively. The Celebration will take viewers on a gallop through history, from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I through to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, culminating in a grand finale.
"Dame Helen Mirren will take on the role of Queen Elizabeth I, whilst a cast of 'Queen’s Players' will be introduced by a character called 'The Herald' played by Omid Djalili. The Herald will whisk viewers through time linking the acts together, narrating and anchoring the stories and making light of some of the absurdities history presents us with.
"Each act will reflect on key moments in history including Elizabeth I's Tilbury Speech and James I and the Gunpowder Plot. The Commonwealth will also be celebrated as well as the four nations within the United Kingdom. All of this will be interspersed with a number of military and equestrian displays from around the world including Azerbaijan, India, Oman, France, Norway, Switzerland and Trinidad & Tobago.
"Music will be provided by a 75-piece orchestra comprised of Tri-Service personnel and augmented with members of The National Symphony Orchestra with special performances from Keala Settle, Gregory Porter and Katherine Jenkins. The Musical Director will be the multi-award winning composer, Debbie Wiseman whilst The Principal Director for Music will be Lieutenant Colonel Jason Burcham RM."
