Lily Cole's singing inspires a new musical take on The Old Vic's '24 Hour Play' gala

For the first time ever the marathon fundraising performances will all be set to music

Actress and model Lily Cole

Hollywood actor Jeff Goldblum is to return to The Old Vic stage for this year’s “24 Hour Play” gala –where this year, for the first time ever, the productions will all be musical.

For the ninth annual event, big name actors, singers, directors, composers and writers will come together for a marathon 24-hour period to devise, rehearse and perform four new musicals.

Cast confirmed include End of the Rainbow star Tracie Bennett, Buffy The Vampire Slayer actor Anthony Head, New Tricks actress Sharon Small and Amy Nuttal who plays Downton Abbey's disgraced servant Ethel.

The charity fundraiser for The Old Vic Trust will be hosted by Little Britain comedian Matt Lucas and will be introduced by the theatre’s artistic director Kevin Spacey.

The decision to embark on four new pieces of musical theatre follows the success of one the six plays devised during last year’s gala which included a song by actress and model Lily Cole (pictured).

The adrenalin-fuelled event will kick off at 10pm on Saturday 8 December when the actors, writers and directors get together at the Old Vic theatre for the first time.

Writers and composers will stay up all night creating the material before the actors spend all day rehearsing on Sunday 9 December ahead of performances to the public that night.

Previous participants in 24 hour plays include Jim Broadben, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joseph Fiennes, Rufus Sewell, James Nesbitt and Rosamund Pike.

The Old Vic Trust funds the work of Old Vic New Voices, a project which fosters new work through the theatre.

This year’s event is sponsored by Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel and Aqua Financial Solutions