Pop star Will Young is due to perform at the Lyric Theatre tonight (10) to help raise funds for a massive expansion of the Hammersmith venue.

The Pop Idol winner is throwing his weight behind plans for the £15 million redevelopment, which will create new studio and study space and offer training for thousands of disadvantaged young people in west London.

Chart stars The Feeling and the cast of Spring Awakening – staged at the Lyric last year – are set to join Young on stage for the fundraising dinner, with high profile guests urged to bid large sums for auction prizes, including an evening with Colin Firth and drinks with Sheila Hancock .

Young said: "It is a pleasure to be able to lend a helping hand to a project that highlights the use of the arts to aid and transform young people's lives."