Vogue's Anna Wintour plans London's answer to Met Gala

In a merger of fashion catwalk and West End theatrics, Vogue's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, is planning a philanthropic arts extravaganza that she hopes will take over the world "in the way the Met Gala did" - while raising money for London's struggling arts scene.

- Morwenna Ferrier

Featuring Naomi Campbell, Stormzy and Michaela Coel, with the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the actor Sir Ian McKellen, the evening event will take place at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and include a red carpet outside, a catwalk show within, and live performances overseen by the director Stephen Daldry.

The show, details of which are otherwise under wraps, will last under an hour. But unlike most fashion shows, it will be ticketed and open to the public, with all proceeds going to performing arts organisations in the capital, including the National Theatre, Royal Opera House and Rambert dance company.

Wintour said she had been prompted to donate profits after hearing of budget cuts last November. "I read with dismay about the amount of cuts that were happening around the performing arts," she said. "The creative talent in London is unparalleled, so anything we can do to support all those creatively brilliant people, we'll do," she said.

The editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, agreed, citing "the post-Covid recovery and long-term health of the arts" as a catalyst in a statement to the Guardian.