Two of the most exciting new arrivals are starting performances this summer. Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical, a musical take on the hit British movie that brought Keira Knightly to stardom, started previews back in May at the Phoenix Theatre, which was once home to Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical, Once. Bend It Like Beckham fuses together both Indian music and contemporary show tune vibes to create a stunning new score for this original British musical. If you fancy finding out how playing football can be translated onto the stage then grab yourself some Bend It Like Beckham tickets; I know I’ll be there!
The West End is also going to be seeing an incredible Broadway transfer this season when the 2013 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots strides into the Adelphi Theatre. The show sweeped up countless Tony Awards back in New York in 2013 and the fantastic tuner, with music written by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, is finally headed to London. With a cast headlined by Killian Donnelly and Matt Henry, this fantastic feel-good show (also based on a British movie) about a Northern shoe factory being spiced up with stilettos for men starts previews at the Adelphi Theatre on August 21st.
Winter will also see a flurry of new openings hitting our shores, two of which being lavish revivals. Cats will make its London return with Memphis the Musical star Beverley Knight as Grizabella at the London Palladium this Christmas time with performances starting October 23rd. Guys And Dolls will also transfer to London with previews starting December 10th at the Savoy Theatre after its critically acclaimed run at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Official opening night is set for January 6th 2016.
Christmas will be celebrated in the form of great comedy on the West End this year though with Elf: The Musical finally hitting British shores. I personally have loved the score from this musical since it was first produced on Broadway back in 2010 and I’m delighted to see the show come to London this year. The musical is based on the hit 2003 Christmas film that starred Will Ferrell and runs from October 24th until January 2nd at the Dominion Theatre.
Finally, in the wake of the recent slew of jukebox musicals like Olivier Award-winning Best Musical Sunny Afternoon and the stunning Beautiful: The Carole King Musical comes the Broadway jukebox smash hit, Motown: The Musical. Featuring over 40 songs that shape the story of how Motown and the business surrounding it came into play, this jukebox musical will be one of the biggest shows to hit London in years. Previews are set to begin at the Shaftesbury Theatre on February 11th, 2016.
Are you going to catch any of these shows? Tweet me and let me know if you do – we might just bump into one another!