'She is clearly performing through immense pain but her ability to innovate is incredible': Madonna returns to the London stage to a triumphant reaction from fans and critics after cancelling ten Madame X tour dates due to injury
- The pop diva, 61, performed the first gig of her 14-date UK leg of her Madame X tour at the London Palladium after cancelling Monday's show and being ordered to rest by doctors
- Gushing social media reviews and five star write-ups from critics heralded the delayed gig as worth the wait
- The star was joined on stage by her seven-year-old twin daughters Stella and Estere and Mercy, 14, as well as her new toyboy boyfriend - backing dancer Ahlamalik Williams, 25
- Referencing her ongoing injuries, the singer shared an Instagram photo of her skull-topped cane leaning against the seats of the London Palladium after Wednesday's show
- Daily Mail's Julia Lawrence declared the show a triumph, writing: 'Painful hip and knee be damned, she dazzled'
Madonna made her return to the stage on Wednesday night, keeping her date at the London Palladium after cancelling ten shows during her Madame X Tour.
The pop diva, 61, wore knee supports as she performed the first gig of her 14-date UK leg of her Madame X tour after cancelling Monday's show and being ordered to rest by doctors over knee and hip injuries.
Gushing social media reviews and five star write-ups from critics heralded the delayed gig, her first London date since 2015, as worth the wait.
![She's back! Madonna made her return to the stage on Wednesday night, keeping her date at the London Palladium after cancelling ten shows during her Madame X Tour and being rewarded with glowing reviews from fans and critics](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24060954-7945275-She_s_back_Tuesday_night_marked_Madonna_s_first_Madame_X_gig_in_-a-4_1580369798851.jpg)
She's back! Madonna made her return to the stage on Wednesday night, keeping her date at the London Palladium after cancelling ten shows during her Madame X Tour and being rewarded with glowing reviews from fans and critics
Wednesday night marked Madonna's first Madame X gig in London after she pulled out of Monday night's opening show due to knee and hip injury – the tenth cancelled date of the world tour.
Madonna has swapped arenas for intimate theatre venues for her Madame X tour, and on Wednesday took to the stage at the 2,286-capacity Palladium.
The highest-grossing female solo touring artist took concert-goers through five acts of her classic hits and new recordings from her 2019 Madame X album - her first release after living as a recluse in Lisbon for two years, as well as eight costume changes.
The star was also joined on stage by her seven-year-old twin daughters Stella and Estere and Mercy, 14, as well as her new toyboy boyfriend - backing dancer Ahlamalik Williams, 25.
![Back to her best: The pop diva, 61, performed the first gig of her 14-date UK leg of her Madame X tour after cancelling Monday's show and being ordered to rest by doctors](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24060952-7945275-Back_to_her_best_Madonna_assured_fans_that_she_was_ready_to_perf-a-8_1580369798853.jpg)
Back to her best: The pop diva, 61, performed the first gig of her 14-date UK leg of her Madame X tour after cancelling Monday's show and being ordered to rest by doctors
The energetic show was not hindered by the knee and hip injuries that have forced her to cancel previous dates. Last month she described being 'in tears from the pain of my injuries'. She added: 'I consider myself a warrior. I never quit, I never give in, I never give up! However, this time I have to listen to my body and accept my pain is a warning.'
Referencing her ongoing injuries, the singer shared an Instagram photo of her skull-topped cane leaning against the sears of the London Palladium after Wednesday's show.
The star wore knee supports for the comeback show, telling the audience that she was thrilled to have 'made it' on stage. She said: 'I'm happy to have made it. How could I not do a show in London.'
Despite her high-energy performance, incorporating high kicks, the splits, and yoga poses, the 'Vogue' hitmaker also admitted things were 'not good in the knee and the hips' and asked for a chair to be brought on stage at one point. She quipped: 'Normally, I kneel for about 20 minutes here. I've been told I'm very good at it.'
Madonna reportedly replies on stretching, warm-ups, meditation and daily ice baths to ease the pain before gigs, refusing to compromise the choreography of her shows, something which both the critics and fans noticed in their gushing reviews.
![Superstar: Madonna was on fine form as she finally returned to the stage at the London Palladium for the first date of her UK Madame X tour on Tuesday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24060092-7945275-Superstar_Madonna_was_on_fine_form_as_she_finally_returned_to_th-m-56_1580372852146.jpg)
![Designer garb: The pop icon, 61, appeared in high spirits as she left the venue in a long black and gold baroque personalised Versace coat](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24060120-7945275-Designer_garb_The_pop_icon_61_appeared_in_high_spirits_as_she_le-a-57_1580372858808.jpg)
Superstar: Wednesday night marked Madonna's first Madame X gig in London after she pulled out of Monday night's opening show due to knee and hip injury – the tenth cancelled date of the world tour but she was back to her best according to fans
![Support: Madonna's backing dancer boyfriend Ahlamalik Williams, 25, left the venue with the star after performing on stage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24073174-7945275-image-a-77_1580374362995.jpg)
Support: Madonna's backing dancer boyfriend Ahlamalik Williams, 25, left the venue with the star after performing on stage
![New beau: Ahlamalik sat beside Madonna in the back seat of the car as they were driven away from the venue](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/09/24073368-7945275-image-m-100_1580374932854.jpg)
New beau: Ahlamalik sat beside Madonna in the back seat of the car as they were driven away from the venue
![Trooper: Referencing her ongoing injuries, the singer shared an Instagram photo of her skull-topped cane leaning against the seats of the London Palladium after Wednesday's show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24072858-7945275-Trooper_Referencing_her_ongoing_injuries_the_singer_shared_an_In-a-76_1580374242526.jpg)
Trooper: Referencing her ongoing injuries, the singer shared an Instagram photo of her skull-topped cane leaning against the seats of the London Palladium after Wednesday's show
Daily Mail's Julia Lawrence declared the show a triumph, writing: 'Painful hip and knee be damned, she dazzled, the absolute trouper she is,' while fans, who paid hundreds of pounds and travelled from across Europe to see the superstar, posted five star reviews online.
Delighted fan Bidisha tweeted: 'Her ability to innovate musically is incredible - to keep sounding fresh....to refuse nostalgia and complacency, to stay hungry. Re Madonna's injury, YES, she is clearly performing through immense, obvious pain. But odd moments (seconds) of her incredible dancing do flash in.'
George Smith tweeted: 'OMFG last night was PERFECT! @madonna was AMAZING - funny, focused,. sounded and looked stunning. I've never been part of such a buzzy and supportive audience. Seeing her up close and personal in a theatre setting was an experience I'll never forget.'
'Queen Madge you were amazing! 20 years on from the last time I watched you,' added concert-goer Jill Wilding.
'Holy moly. Just seen #Madonna in concert. It was like an injection of life into the soul. Her voice.. the storytelling..her ability at 60+ to own the stage. The classics and the new. If you can get your hands on a ticket London go go go,' agreed Nimi Raja, while a fan named Jack declared: 'She doesn't still have 'it' - she is it.'
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/09/24074556-7945275-image-a-13_1580376907469.jpg)
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![Universal praise! Fans, who paid hundreds of pounds and travelled from across Europe to see the superstar at the delayed opening to the UK leg of her tour, posted five star reviews online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24072004-7945275-image-a-53_1580372165154.jpg)
Universal praise! Fans, who paid hundreds of pounds and travelled from across Europe to see the superstar at the delayed opening to the UK leg of her tour, posted five star reviews online
![Acclaimed: Daily Mail's Julia Lawrence declared the intimate show a triumph, writing: 'Painful hip and knee be damned, she dazzled, the absolute trouper she is'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24060956-7945275-Ill_Tuesday_night_marked_Madonna_s_first_Madame_X_gig_in_London_-a-10_1580369798858.jpg)
Acclaimed: Daily Mail's Julia Lawrence declared the intimate show a triumph, writing: 'Painful hip and knee be damned, she dazzled, the absolute trouper she is'
The show as also stuffed with humour. At one point the American star adopted a British accent and admitted she never realised how much her voice had changed when she lived in the UK while married to Guy Ritchie.
The star admitted she couldn't understand why she was being mocked - until she heard old interviews and felt 'horrified and flabbergasted'. She had the audience laughing as she explained: 'I didn't know what anyone was talking about until I heard old interviews of myself. And then I was horrified and flabbergasted. Why did you let me do that to myself? 'It's all Guy Ritchie's fault. He made me to it.'
On Saturday the singer told fans she was 'deeply sorry' but that she needed to 'put her body and her health first', cancelling Monday's schedulled gig.
'Under doctors guidance I have been told to rest for a few days,' she wrote on Instagram. 'As you all know, I have injuries that have plagued me since the beginning of the tour but I must always listen to my body.
'Please know that it hurts me more than you can imagine to have to cancel any shows.' She also cancelled dates in New York, Miami Beach, Los Angeles, Boston, and Lisbon.
Madonna assured fans she was ready to perform before Wednesday's concert as she shared a video of her daughter Estere drumming backstage with the all-female backing act Orquestra Batukadeiras, who are from Portugal, where the singer now lives.
She wrote alongside the video: 'Hello London......... We Finally Made it #madamextheatre #thelondonpalladium'.
![Back: Madonna has swapped arenas for intimate theatre venues for her Madame X tour, and on Wednesday took to the stage at the 2,286-capacity Palladium, sharing an Instagram snap of herself on stage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24072690-7945275-image-m-71_1580373756636.jpg)
Back: Madonna has swapped arenas for intimate theatre venues for her Madame X tour, and on Wednesday took to the stage at the 2,286-capacity Palladium, sharing an Instagram snap of herself on stage
![Tough decision: The singer told fans she was 'deeply sorry' but that she needed to 'put her body and her health first' before pulling out of Monday's schedulled London show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24060988-7945275-Tough_decision_The_singer_told_fans_she_was_deeply_sorry_but_tha-a-7_1580369798852.jpg)
Tough decision: The singer told fans she was 'deeply sorry' but that she needed to 'put her body and her health first' before pulling out of Monday's schedulled London show
![It's a look: The star teamed her Versace coat with chunky chain adorned trainers for her walk to the car](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/09/24073382-7945275-image-a-85_1580374820808.jpg)
It's a look: The star teamed her Versace coat with chunky chain adorned trainers for her walk to the car
![Helping hand: Security guards guided Madonna by the hand as a crowd gathered outside after the gig](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/09/24073366-7945275-image-a-99_1580374888134.jpg)
![Helping hand: Security guards guided Madonna by the hand as a crowd gathered outside after the gig](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/09/24073364-7945275-image-m-98_1580374885137.jpg)
Helping hand: Security guards guided Madonna by the hand as a crowd gathered outside after the gig
As well as her first London date, Madonna cancelled a show with just 45 minutes notice at the Coliseu Theatre in Lisbon, Portugal last week.
The musician, 61, announced the news via her Instagram page.
Informing fans the evening's show had been cancelled, she wrote: 'Thank you again Lisbon! Sorry I had to cancel tonight but I must listen to my body and rest!!'
She jokingly added: 'That white Port got me through the rest of the show! See you on Tuesday fingers crossed @dinodsantiago #madamextheatre #lisboa #coliseu'
An email sent at 19:45 on Sunday night informed the January 19 ticket holders that Madonna would not be appearing on stage at 20:30 as planned.
Madonna cited injury as the reason for needing to cancel the date at such short notice sharing a video of herself 'warming-up' for a show four days before.
![She did it: Madonna wore a Versace coat which featured a Madame X red embroidered symbol on the back in homage to her tour as she left the Palladium with her security team](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24060100-7945275-Versace_The_cosy_coat_which_came_complete_with_a_faux_fur_trim_f-a-3_1580369798850.jpg)
She did it: Madonna wore a Versace coat which featured a Madame X red embroidered symbol on the back in homage to her tour as she left the Palladium with her security team
![Time for bed: Madonna was escorted out of the Palladium by a number of burly security men via the stage door](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24060130-7945275-Time_for_bed_Madonna_was_escorted_out_of_the_Palladium_by_a_numb-m-83_1580374422788.jpg)
![Feeling the love: Madonna flashed a smile after her stage show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/24060122-7945275-Feeling_the_love_Madonna_flashed_a_smile_after_her_stage_show-m-81_1580374412579.jpg)
Time for bed: Madonna was escorted out of the Palladium by a number of burly security men via the stage door
![Stage costume: Madonna teamed the look with fishnet tights and black chunky shoes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24060096-7945275-Stage_costume_Madonna_teamed_the_look_with_fishnet_tights_and_bl-a-9_1580369798857.jpg)
Stage costume: Madonna teamed the look with fishnet tights and black chunky shoes
![Triumphant: Madonna is schedulled to play a string of further dates at the Palladium before heading to Paris](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/09/24073378-7945275-image-a-94_1580374872403.jpg)
![Triumphant: Madonna is schedulled to play a string of further dates at the Palladium before heading to Paris](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/09/24073372-7945275-image-a-95_1580374872405.jpg)
Triumphant: Madonna is schedulled to play a string of further dates at the Palladium before heading to Paris
During Saturday night's show in Lisbon the singer downed white port on stage with musician Dino D'Santiago, stating that the drink, which was her 'first in a month' had 'got her through' the rest of the performance.
While she has not released details of her injury, the star reportedly told a San Francisco audience in November that she was suffering from a 'bad knee' due to a torn ligament.
The Madame X tour, which began in September 2019, originally had 93 dates - 56 in North America and 37 in Europe.
That number has since fallen to 85 after the star cancelled nine show dates; two in New York, one in Los Angeles, three in Boston, one in Miami Beach and now two dates in Lisbon.
Madonna is four shows into her European tour, with 32 more shows to go.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/23865606-7945275-image-a-59_1580372882545.jpg)
![Upsetting: The legendary songstress took to Instagram on Saturday to tell fans she was unable to perform Monday's schedulled London date due to ongoing injury troubles, adding she'd been ordered to rest by doctors](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/08/23865610-7945275-Upsetting_The_legendary_songstress_took_to_Instagram_on_Saturday-a-62_1580372886186.jpg)
Upsetting: The legendary songstress took to Instagram on Saturday to tell fans she was unable to perform Monday's schedulled London date due to ongoing injury troubles, adding she'd been ordered to rest by doctors
Fans paid hundreds of pounds to get in as Madonna belatedly played the first of her UK dates. But those planning to record their presence on their phones were in for a disappointment.
The singer banned the use of mobiles and smart watches at her 14-night London Palladium residency, part of the Madame X world tour.
Instead concert-goers were forced to lock away their devices in special fabric cases as they entered.
She implemented the phone ban from the start of the tour in New York in September.
During the tour, Madonna has been taking one Polaroid per concert, which she auctions to an audience member, with the money going to her charity, Raising Malawi. Wednesday's show photo raised £1,500.
The singer is one of a number of artists moving towards phone-free gigs, with Alicia Keys and Guns N' Roses previously using Yondr, the US firm hired by Madonna to ensure mobiles are locked away.
Kate Bush asked fans not to use their phones to record her comeback shows at Hammersmith Apollo in 2014. The reclusive singer said she wanted fans to 'share in the experience together'.
Tickets for some London dates were still on sale last night for up to £511.50. Resale websites were demanding more than £700.
![Weary-eyed: The singer looked a little weary as she got into her chauffeur-driven taxi after completing the first of her stint of UK tour dates](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24060114-7945275-Weary_eyed_The_singer_looked_a_little_weary_as_she_got_into_her_-a-11_1580369798859.jpg)
Weary-eyed: The singer looked a little weary as she got into her chauffeur-driven taxi after completing the first of her stint of UK tour dates
![No phones allowed! Madonna banned the use of mobiles and smart watches as part of her Madame X world tour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24053908-7945275-No_phones_allowed_Madonna_banned_the_use_of_mobiles_and_smart_wa-a-12_1580369798860.jpg)
No phones allowed! Madonna banned the use of mobiles and smart watches as part of her Madame X world tour
![Wow: The singer, who implemented the phone ban from the start of the tour in New York in September, will hold her 14-night tour at the London Palladium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/30/07/24050982-7945275-Wow_The_singer_who_implemented_the_phone_ban_from_the_start_of_t-a-13_1580369798860.jpg)
Wow: The singer, who implemented the phone ban from the start of the tour in New York in September, will hold her 14-night tour at the London Palladium
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