From the stage to the street

West End actors swapped the theatre for Leicester Square to wow thousands of fans during a free theatre extravaganza.

The casts of shows including Chicago, Mamma Mia! and The Lion King took to the streets to perform for free as part of the West End Live festival over the weekend.

Thousands of people filled the square to as actors performed musical numbers from The Producers, Guys and Dolls and Footloose.

Stilt-walkers mingled with Shaolin Monks performing in the Chinatown Showcase, Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood introduced cutting edge underground street performers and Latin dancers gave free Salsa lessons as the Blue Man Group provided their unique brand of entertainment.

Indoor venues including Wigmore Hall and The Borderline also hosted events, but it was the eclectic mix of acts on the main stage that was the real draw - the square had to be shut three times on Saturday as 65,000 people poured in.

Students at the Sylvia Young Theatre School got a taste of the big time, and there were songs from the London Gay Men's Chorus.

Stunt men and women showed off the tricks of their trade alongside pupils from six schools who sang as part of the Westminster Choral Project.

Madame Tussauds, the Theatre Museum, Hamleys, the British Film Institute, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery also got involved in the fun by setting up interactive exhibits and displays, while magicians, make-over artists and storytellers helped make the weekend one to remember for the thousands of revellers who turned out in blazing sunshine.