Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story tells the story of the three years in which Buddy Holly became a music legend. Featuring a host of his greatest hits – including Peggy Sue, That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave On, Heartbeat and Raining In My Heart – it is a tale that starts with Holly’s first recording contract, moves through his move to New York and ends with the rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza that is the Winter Dance Party.

Aged just 22, music legend Buddy Holly died in a plane crash. In just a few short years, the singer and musician had already made an immense impact on the music industry and his untimely death shocked the world.

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story has been seen by over 20 million people around the world, working its way through 81 miles of guitar strings and 175,875 plectrums. When the show made its West End debut in 1989, it received two Laurence Olivier Award nominations in the categories of Best New Musical and Best Actor In A Musical.

When Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story reopened in London’s Theatreland in 2007, it was described by the Sunday Express’s Mark Shenton as “An enduring crowd pleaser”, by Patrick Marmion of the Daily Mail as “still as fresh and revitalising as Holly’s music itself”, and by Charles Spencer of the Daily Telegraph as “Ludicrously enjoyable”.

The year 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly, and a special commemorative performance of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story will be given on Tuesday 3 February, half a century to the day since Buddy’s final performance.

Looking to see some musical theatre? Find out more about London musicals.