Monday at The Musicals Hits the West End

Inspirational childhood cancer survivor Ellen Bisci is returning with her biggest ever musical extravaganza, Monday at the Musicals. It will feature stars of the West End and beyond, in aid of Trekstock and Children with Cancer UK.

Monday at the Musicals will take place on 12 May at the Lyric Theatre at 7.30pm. The event was created three years ago by Ellen Bisci, who’s love for musical theatre bought her comfort and joy through one of the toughest times of her life.

Trekstock have been such a huge support for me over the last few years and I am so happy to now be giving back through these concerts.

This year’s show is marking 20 years since Ellen was first diagnosed with cancer. It will feature a whole host of West End stars, including Joanne Clifton (Rocky Horror Show UK tour, Flashdance the Musical UK tour), Holly Bannis (What’s Love Got To Do With It UK tour), Tom Lidgley (Royal Academy of Music), Freddie King (Titanique), Sarah Goggin (Back to the Future), Maggie Lynne (Wicked), Georgina Castle (Mean Girls), and Nadim Naaman (Phantom of the Opera European Tour).

I’m delighted that Monday at the Musicals is back and will be at the iconic Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue to celebrate 20 years since I was initially diagnosed with cancer.These concerts mean so much to me and I am so thrilled to bring my two passions together, musical theatre and raising awareness and vital funds for 2 charities that mean so much to me. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without them.

Ellen's story

I was first diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia when I was just 9 years old and I had 6 months of intensive chemotherapy to save my life. Luckily I went into remission but just under 3 years later the cancer was back. At this time I also had a massive stroke and I was told that I may never walk or talk again, so I’d gone from an A Star student to someone who couldn’t even say my own name.

I had to have daily rehabilitation of physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy whilst also being on intensive chemotherapy to save my life. I was fortune that with support I started to regain my strength and speech but I have been left with right sided weakness and memory issues. During treatment I had the MRD test which was co-founded by Children with Cancer UK and is used to see is the cancer treatment is working and whether additional treatment is needed. It was revolutionary in the cancer field.

I have now been left with late effects from the treatment that I initially had and these include intracranial hypertension (which I’ve had 13 brain surgeries for), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, epilepsy and heart failure, to name a few. Cancer really has impacted every aspect of my life but one thing that has brought me so much joy is musical theatre.

My love of musical theatre began whilst I was in Great Ormond Street hospital where every week I looked forward to Saturday evenings when I would watch Andrew Lloyd Webbers ‘I’d Do Anything’ and cheer on my two favourite performers Samantha Barks and Jodie Prenger. As soon as I was well enough my aunt arranged for me to meet the wonderful Jodie Prenger, and from here I started going to musicals with my aunt and meeting musical theatre performers at the stage doors.In a sliding doors scenario I met Michael Xavier who invited me to speak and share my story at his annual Christmas with the Stars fundraiser in aid of Children with Cancer UK, a charity I credit with saving my life due to the research they fund.Through Michael I became connected further with musical theatre performers and ultimately the first Monday at the Musicals was produced and the rest is history as they say! Children with Cancer UK and Trekstock are both charities that mean the most to me. I credit CWC UK for saving my life due to the research that they have done and for that I will forever be grateful. Trekstock are a small but mighty charity that support people in their 20s and 30s who have had a cancer diagnosis and they have been supporting me through my late effects and have built my confidence and through their programmes allowed me to meet others who have had a similar experience to myself and shown me how to live life alongside my late effects, I don’t know where I’d be without them!

Without both of these charities I would not be thriving the way that I am today and that’s why I wanted them both to benefit from this event.

Lots of love

Ellen x