A new musical version of hit film Bend It Like Beckham will kick off its London run in May 2015, when it opens at the Phoenix Theatre.
Written and directed by Gurinder Chadha, who also had dual duties on the movie version that helped launch the careers of Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, the Bend It Like Beckham musical boasts a song-delivering partnership more potent than Hoddle and Waddle, Howard Goodall (Love Story, The Hired Man) and Charles Hart (The Phantom Of The Opera, Aspects Of Love).
The striking tale of a female footballer, Bend It Like Beckham tells the story of Jess, a young woman with a big decision to make. Should she live up to family expectations and head towards university and marriage or chase her dreams and follow in the footsteps of Golden Balls himself, David Beckham?
Chadha, who’s hoping to turn the Phoenix into the West End’s own theatre of dreams and score a hit with the new musical, 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.”
Tickets for Bend It Like Beckham go on sale next week. Anyone whose goal is to get a great deal will be celebrating like Roger Milla in 1990 when they hear that for performances until 11 July, 115 special Book It Like Beckham tickets will be made available at £15. Why 115? Because that’s the number of caps the iconic midfield maestro won in his England career.
Bend It Like Beckham, which also has choreographer Aletta Collins, designer Miriam Buether and co-writer Paul Mayeda Berges on its musical team sheet, will tackle West End audiences at the Phoenix following the closure of the Olivier Award-winning Once. Also based on a hit film Once, which from 17 November will star Boyzone’s Ronan Keating, blows full time on its London run on 21 March 2015.