The Thing-A Thon, held at the Picadilly Theatre in London's West End, was a truly unique event and one I feel honoured to have attended.

In October 1987 a meeting was held by The Terence Higgins Trust, a leading Aids Charity, for members of Equity (the actors union). They were asking for help in raising money for two 'Aids' charities - The Terence Higgins Trust and Frontliners, an organisation of 'people with aids helping other people with aids'. The response from the performers was a commmitment to stage a series of shows to raise a target of £100,000.

The Thing-a-Thon, organised by Su Pollard, was the first of these shows.

It was staged from 12 noon til 10.30pm and was split into four sessions, allowing the theatre to be filled four times - tickets were £5 each and allowed admission to a specific session. Included in the line-up were casts of several West End shows of the time.

Below is the running order that appeared in the programme. It stated that 'all artists will appear subject to availability'. I can't be certain as to the appearance of all the acts, though I know most were there - Billy Bragg appeared in the 3rd session, which I had a ticket for, not the fourth as was billed.

Session 1:   Juliet Alderdice, Eileen Atkins, British Airways Groovers Steel

(12 - 2pm) Orchestra, Miguel Brown, Cantabile, 'Girlfriends' Company, Half

                  Moon Panto, 'Les Liaisons Dengereuses' Company, Paul Medford,

                  National theatre Company, 'Nunsense' Company, 'On The Other

                  Hand', Fay Presto, 'String of Pearls' and Dilys Watling.

Session 2:  Michael Ball and Angela Richards, Debbie Bishop, 'The Compulsives',

 (2.30 -     'Eastenders' cast, '42nd Street', 'Girls and the Great Xar', Hue and

  4.30pm)  Cry, Kenny Lynch, Claire Rayner, Sinitta, 'Starlight Express'

                  Company, Peter Straker and Helen Terry.