Bend It Like Beckham The Musical is set to hit the London stage like a Wayne Rooney thunderbolt of a shot. But while anyone who has ever picked up a newspaper, turned on a PC or handled a tablet will probably know what Mr Rooney looks like in a football shirt, you might not know what the cast of this brand new West End show look like in their soccer-inspired attire.
That gap in your knowledge is about to change, as the stars of the new show, which is based on the hit Keira Knightley film, were snapped out and about in Southall to promote the show.
Leading ladies Natalie Dew and Lauren Samuels kitted out in the classic football ensemble of shorts and t-shirt, you might expect. The classic ‘team go wild in the changing room’ image is also in there. But Jamie Campbell Bower strolling casually down a central reservation of a high street while strumming a guitar; no-one saw that image coming.
The show, co-written and directed by the film’s creator Gurinder Chadha with music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart, is not a tale of poor road safety, but of football, cultural expectations and following your dreams.
Bend It Like Beckham The Musical tells the story of Jess, who has an important decision to make. Should she follow the route expected of her, heading for university and marriage, or follow her heart and grasp the footballing opportunities opening up before her.
The new musical begins its run at London’s Phoenix Theatre on 15 May. It follows Olivier Award winning hit Once, which ends its run in the capital on 21 March.
You can book tickets for Bend It Like Beckham The Musical through us here.