Benefit

WAR CHILD is a new charity set up by two BBC film-makers who returned from war-torn Croatia determined to take action. The organisation is hosting three days of music at the Royal Festival Hall to raise funds for child victims of war, and most urgently of a war that is no further from London than Rome. At 7.30 tonight John Thaw will introduce a concert of classical music with artists including Peter Donohoe, Steven Kovacevic, Margaret Marshall, Julian Lloyd Webber, Tatjana and Natasha Lipovsek. This will be followed by an all-night candlelit vigil at Gabriel's Wharf (begins 10pm) and at dawn a convoy of trucks will leave for Bosnia. On Sunday (7.30) an evening of contemporary music (introduced by Tom Stoppard and Susannah York) will include performances by John Bingham, Steven Isserlis, Joanna MacGregor, and the Smith Quartet. Jonathan Ross, Jo Brand and Rowland Rivron are a few of the celebrated personalities to appear on Monday (7.30) for an evening of Comedy. If only it was a laughing matter.

Tickets from pounds 7 available from RFH, South Bank, SE1 (071-928 8800) or First Call (071-497 9977)

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