New Musical Bend it like Beckham is due to open at the Phoenix Theatre from 24th June 2015 (previews now)
Bend It Like Beckham is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions. Directed by Gurinder Chadha OBE who also directed the film version starring Kiera Knightley, this new British stage musical has original music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart, and a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha.
Jess needs extra time. She is facing the most important decision of her life; live up to family expectations of university, career and marriage, or follow in the footsteps of her hero David Beckham. When the talented teenage footballer is spotted playing football in Southall, a world of opportunities opens up before her. But as the day of her sister’s traditional Indian wedding approaches, Jess needs to pick sides. From the first pass in the park to the final free-kick, Bend It Like Beckham is a joyous musical comedy with vibrant characters featuring a new score with a Punjabi kick. This brand new British musical is a funny, glorious and uplifting adaptation of the much-loved hit film about refusing to watch from the sidelines, bending the rules, and scoring that deciding goal.
Natalie Dew (Serious Business, Rough Cut)will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels (Grease, We Will Rock You) as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women’s football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower making his West End Debut as their coach Joe.
Ronni Ancona (Singing in the Rain, Little Revolution) will play Paula, Jules’s Mum, with Jamal (Ragtime) as Jess’ good friend Tony. Preeya Kalidas (Eastenders) plays Pinky, Jess’ sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.
Gurinder Chadha said: “Developing Bend It Like Beckham for the stage has been the most enjoyable creative process of my career so far. It was always my intention to build on the film and to present its themes and storylines to live audiences in an exciting new dynamic way. I have been inspired by musicals ever since I was a little girl, now with Bend It like Beckham, such a familiar story to so many, I believe we are presenting a totally new kind of musical – part West End, part London Punjabi, but whole heartedly British. I am very excited for us to take our place with so many inspirational musicals past and present in my home town London.”
On film, the British comedy drama Bend It Like Beckham starred Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Shaznay Lewis and Archie Panjabi, and was released in 2002, directed by Gurinder Chadha and written by Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra and Paul Mayeda Berges. Following the international release of Bend It Like Beckham the film, produced by Deepak Nayar and Gurinder Chadha, went on to win multiple awards worldwide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ulYcHAcRu0
Official Website | Bend it like Beckham
Cast:
Natalie Dew – Jess
Lauren Samuels – Jules
Jamie Campbell Bower – Joe
Ronni Ancona – Paula, Jules’s Mum
Jamal Andréas – Tony
Preeya Kalidas – Pinky, Jess’ sister
Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra
Sohm Kapila, Buckso Dhillon-Woolley and Harveen Mann play Aunties,
Irvine Iqbal and Karl Seth play Uncles,
Sejal Keshwala, Serina Mathew and Sharan Phull as Cousins.
Rakesh Boury, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall, Tom Millen, Daniel Bolton play footballers,
Raj Bajaj – Teetu
The Harriers are played by Michelle Bishop, Lisa Bridge, Chloe Chambers, Genesis Lynea, Kirstie Skivington and Danielle Young.
Rekha Sawhney and Shahid Khan are the production’s Indian Heritage Singers. They are accompanied by swings including Kayleigh McKnight.
Creatives:
Gurinder Chadha – director
Howard Goodall – music
Charles Hart, – lyrics
Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha – book
Aletta Collins – choreography and Musical Setting
Miriam Buether – set design
Katrina Lindsay – costume design
Neil Austin – lighting design
Richard Brooker – sound design
Nigel Lilley – musical direction
Howard Goodall and Kuljit Bhamra – Orchestrations
Booking Information
Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0JP
First Booking Period: 15 May – 11 July 2015
Performances:
Opening Schedule
Opens 24th June – Monday – Saturday 7.30pm, (Selected previews from Friday 15th May)
Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm
Prices:
Opening weeks: £15 – £49.50, plus 115 Book It Like Beckham seats at £15 each – honouring David Beckham’s record 115 caps for England)
Group tickets: groups of five £49.50 per ticket & groups of eleven £39.50 per ticket
A limited number of Day Seats at £15.00 each will go on sale from the Box Office, in person only, from 10am on the day of performance
All ticket prices include a £1.50 restoration levy
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