Review: LEE MEAD: THE BEST OF ME at the Vaudeville Theatre

Date: 10th March 2025 

Seat: H18 (Stalls)

Stars: 4

There are few things in life you can count on: the British weather being unpredictable, someone standing up before the train has even reached the platform, and Lee Mead delivering an effortlessly charming performance. Last night at the Vaudeville Theatre, Mead kicked off The Westway Sessions with The Best of Me – a show that felt less like a concert and more like being invited into his living room, if his living room just happened to have impeccable acoustics and a crowd of adoring fans.

From the first note, Mead was in his element, effortlessly balancing theatrical power with easy-going charisma. He glided through a mix of musical theatre favourites (yes, ‘Any Dream Will Do’ made an appearance – no, the coat wasn’t included, but the audience did become the choir) and pop classics, proving that his voice is as smooth as ever. ‘Music of the Night’ was a knockout, dripping with all the Phantom-y drama you could want, while ‘Bring Him Home’ was so delicate you could hear a pin drop (if anyone had dared to drop one).

But Mead didn’t just stick to the tried-and-tested showstoppers. He threw in a few surprises too. A stripped-back ‘Englishman In New York’ oozed effortless cool, while ‘Walking in Memphis’ had just the right amount of swagger. And then there were the originals – his own track ‘Let The River Flow’ felt deeply personal, a glimpse into an artist who’s still evolving even after years in the industry.

The Westway Sessions promise a series of intimate, theatre-filled nights with some of the biggest names in the business, and if this opener is anything to go by, it’s going to be a must-watch series for any musical theatre fan. With upcoming shows featuring Cassidy Janson, Kerry Ellis, and Aimie Atkinson, the Vaudeville is set to become the West End’s best-kept secret (but not for long).

Get your tickets here: https://thevaudevilletheatre.co.uk/tickets/the-westway-sessions-at-the-vaudeville/.