Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical

Bend It Like Beckham the Musical is a musical with music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart, and a book by Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges. Based on the 2002 film of the same name, the musical made its West End and world premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in May 2015.

Bend It Like Beckham
the Musical
2015 West End production poster
MusicHoward Goodall
LyricsCharles Hart
BookGurinder Chadha
Paul Mayeda Berges
BasisBend It Like Beckham (2002 film)
Premiere24 June 2015 (2015-06-24): Phoenix Theatre, London
Productions2015 West End
AwardsCritics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical

Background

The musical is based on the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham.[1] In late 2003, it was first revealed that the film's writer and director Gurinder Chadha planned to turn the film into a stage musical with the hope that it could be staged a year later.[2] It was not until 2011, that further information emerged that a script had been completed and that they were looking for someone to compose the score,[3] with workshops ultimately taking place in 2013[4] and early 2014.[5]

On 31 October 2014, the show was officially confirmed and it was announced that the show would premiere in London in May 2015,[6] with tickets going on sale on 7 November 2014.[7] The musical has a book by Gurinder Chadha and her husband Paul Mayeda Berges and is directed by writer Gurinder Chadha,[8] with choreography by Aletta Collins,[9] set design by Miriam Buether,[10] costume design by Katrina Lindsay[11] and lighting design by Neil Austin.[12] The musical's score is composed by Howard Goodall,[12] with lyrics by Charles Hart,[13] orchestrations by Charles Hart and Kuljit Bhamra,[14] sound design by Richard Brooker[12] and musical direction by Nigel Lilley.[12]

Production history

The show's premiere production began previews at the Phoenix Theatre in London, on 15 May 2015, with its official opening night coming on 24 June, initially booking until 11 July 2015.[15] Prior to opening the booking period was extended to 24 October 2015.[16] On 19 January 2015, full casting was announced with the news that Natalie Dew would play the role of Jess,[17] with Lauren Samuels playing Jules,[18] Jamie Campbell Bower as Joe,[19] Ronni Ancona[20] as Paula and Preeya Kalidas, who had previously played the role of Monica in the film, as Pinky.[21] On 13 March 2015, it was revealed that Ronni Ancona had withdrawn from the production during rehearsals due to family reasons and that Sophie-Louise Dann would replace her in the role of Paula.[22] The show also included four female footballers who would perform alongside the cast to help bring the game to the stage. The show closed on 5 March 2016, after a run of just 9 months at the end of the original cast's contracts.[23]

On 7 May 2019 it was announced that the production, which debuted in London's West End in 2015, would have its North American premiere in Toronto, with a limited run at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts' Bluma Appel Theatre between 7 and 24 Dec. [24]

Music

Musical numbers

Orchestra

The musical uses an eight-member orchestra consisting of piano, guitar, mandolin, violin, cello, sitar, double bass, electric bass, tabla, dhokah, dhol and percussion.[25]

Principal roles and casts
Role Original West End production[14][26]
Jess Natalie Dew
Jules Lauren Samuels
Joe Jamie Campbell Bower
Paula Sophie-Louise Dann[22]
Pinky Preeya Kalidas
Tony Jamal Andréas
Mr Bhamra Tony Jayawardena
Mrs Bhamra Natasha Jayetileke
Teetu Raj Bajaj
Teetu's Dad Irvine Iqbal
Teetu's Mum Sohm Kapila
Voiceover John Motson
Ensemble Michelle Bishop, Daniel Bolton, Rakesh Boury, Lisa Bridge, Chloe Chambers, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall, Buckso Dhillon-Woolley, Sejal Keshwala, Genesis Lynea, Harveen Mann, Serena Mathew, Tom Millen, Sharan Phull, Karl Seth, Kirstie Skivington and Danielle Young
Pro Footballers Amy Bradley, Wendy Martin, Shannon Maloney and Robyn McEvoy
Heritage Singers Shahid Khan and Rekha Sawhney
Swings Kayleigh McKnight and Leanne Pinder

Awards and nominations

Original West End production
Year Award Category Nominee Result
2015 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award[27] Best Musical Won
Evening Standard Theatre Award[28][29] Best Musical Nominated
Newcomer in a Musical Natalie Dew Nominated
2016 Laurence Olivier Award[30] Best New Musical Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical Natalie Dew Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical Preeya Kalidas Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Music Howard Goodall, Charles Hart and Kuljit Bhamra Nominated
Best Costume Design Katrina Lindsay Nominated

References
  1. "'Bend It Like Beckham' - The Musical Is Coming". nbcnews.com. NBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. "Bend It Like Beckham in West End transfer talks". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. 8 December 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. ""Bend It Like Beckham" Stage Musical Aiming for West End and Broadway". playbill.com. Playbill. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  4. "Samantha Barks to star in Bend It Like Beckham musical?". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  5. "Bend It Like Beckham edges closer to West End?". westendtheatre.com. West End Theatre. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  6. "Bend It Like Beckham to hit the West End stage". express.co.uk. Daily Express. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  7. "Bend It Like Beckham, Musical Version of 2002 Film, to Open at West End's Phoenix Theatre". playbill.com. Playbill. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  8. "Stage adaptation of hit film that launched careers of Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra to come to London". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  9. "She Shoots, She Scores! Bend It Like Beckham Musical to Receive World Premiere in London's West End". broadway.com. Broadway Dot Com. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  10. "Bend It Like Beckham musical to open at the Phoenix Theatre in May". thestage.co.uk. The Stage. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  11. "Bend It Like Beckham: Natalie Dew, Lauren Samuels to star in London play". digitalspy.co.uk. Digital Spy. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  12. "Bend it Like Beckham musical comes to West End in 2015". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  13. "Bend It Like Beckham musical set for West End stage". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  14. "Bend It Like Beckham the Musical". Phoenix Theatre programme: 25. 15 May 2015.
  15. "Lauren Samuels and Jamie Campbell Bower star in Bend It Like Beckham musical". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  16. "UK's BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM Now Booking Through October 2015". broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  17. "Natalie Dew and Lauren Samuels to lead Bend It Like Beckham cast". thestage.co.uk. The Stage. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  18. "Natalie Dew to Star as 'Jess' in West End's BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM Musical". broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  19. "'Bend It Like Beckham' musical to hit London theatre in May". business-standard.com. Business Standard. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  20. "Bend It Like Beckham: Natalie Dew, Lauren Samuels to star in London play". digitalspy.co.uk. Digital Spy. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  21. "EastEnders' Preeya Kalidas to star in Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical". reveal.co.uk. Reveal Magazine. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  22. "Sophie-Louise Dann replaces Ronni Ancona in Bend It Like Beckham". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  23. "West End's Bend It Like Beckham to Shutter in March". playbill.com. Playbill. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  24. "Bend It Like Beckham stage musical coming to Toronto." thestar.com. The Toronto Star. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019
  25. "Bend It Like Beckham the Musical". Phoenix Theatre programme: 26. 15 May 2015.
  26. "West End's Bend It Like Beckham Musical Casts Its Complete Team". playbill.com. Playbill. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  27. "2015 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 28 November 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  28. "Evening Standard Theatre Awards: Full list of nominees". Evening Standard. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  29. "Evening Standard Theatre Awards: Who won and why". Evening Standard. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  30. "Olivier Winners 2016". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
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