Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical Explained

Bend It Like Beckham
Subtitle:the Musical
Music:Howard Goodall
Lyrics:Charles Hart
Basis:Bend It Like Beckham
by Gurinder Chadha
Premiere Location:Phoenix Theatre, London
Awards:Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best 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.

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. The musical's score is composed by Howard Goodall,[12] with lyrics by Charles Hart,[13] orchestrations by Charles Hart and Kuljit Bhamra, 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.[14] Prior to opening the booking period was extended to 24 October 2015.[15] On 19 January 2015, full casting was announced with the news that Natalie Dew would play the role of Jess,[16] with Lauren Samuels playing Jules,[17] Jamie Campbell Bower as Joe,[18] Ronni Ancona as Paula[11] and Preeya Kalidas, who had previously played the role of Monica in the film, as Pinky.[19] On 13 March 2015, it was revealed that Ronni Ancona had withdrawn from the production during rehearsals due to family reasons and that Sophie-Louise Dann would replace her in the role of Paula.[20] The show also included four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.[21]

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.[22]

Music

Musical numbers

Act I
Act II

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.[23]

Principal roles and casts

RoleOriginal West End production[24] [25]
JessNatalie Dew
JulesLauren Samuels
JoeJamie Campbell Bower
PaulaSophie-Louise Dann
PinkyPreeya Kalidas
TonyJamal Andréas
Mr BhamraTony Jayawardena
Mrs BhamraNatasha Jayetileke
TeetuRaj Bajaj
Teetu's DadIrvine Iqbal
Teetu's MumSohm Kapila
VoiceoverJohn Motson
EnsembleMichelle 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 FootballersAmy Bradley, Wendy Martin, Shannon Maloney and Robyn McEvoy
Heritage SingersShahid Khan and Rekha Sawhney
SwingsKayleigh McKnight and Leanne Pinder

Awards and nominations

Original West End production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2015Critics’ Circle Theatre Award[26] Best Musical
Evening Standard Theatre Award[27] [28] Best Musical
Newcomer in a MusicalNatalie Dew
2016Laurence Olivier Award[29] Best New Musical
Best Actress in a MusicalNatalie Dew
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a MusicalPreeya Kalidas
Outstanding Achievement in MusicHoward Goodall, Charles Hart and Kuljit Bhamra
Best Costume DesignKatrina Lindsay

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Bend It Like Beckham' - The Musical Is Coming . . nbcnews.com . 3 January 2015.
  2. Web site: Reynolds . Nigel . Farrow . Boyd . Bend It Like Beckham in West End transfer talks . . telegraph.co.uk . 8 December 2003 . 8 February 2015.
  3. Web site: Gioia . Michael . "Bend It Like Beckham" Stage Musical Aiming for West End and Broadway . . playbill.com . 11 October 2011 . 4 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Samantha Barks to star in Bend It Like Beckham musical? . WhatsOnStage . whatsonstage.com . 11 October 2013 . 3 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Bend It Like Beckham edges closer to West End? . West End Theatre . westendtheatre.com . 2 May 2014 . 10 February 2015.
  6. Web site: Bend It Like Beckham to hit the West End stage . . express.co.uk . 31 October 2014 . 3 November 2014.
  7. Web site: Shenton . Mark . Bend It Like Beckham, Musical Version of 2002 Film, to Open at West End's Phoenix Theatre . . playbill.com . 31 October 2014 . 4 August 2022.
  8. Web site: Quinn . Ben . Bend It Like Beckham to be made into musical . . 31 October 2014 . 3 November 2014.
  9. Web site: Lloyd Webber . Imogen . She Shoots, She Scores! Bend It Like Beckham Musical to Receive World Premiere in London's West End . Broadway.com . broadway.com . 31 October 2014 . 15 February 2015.
  10. Web site: Hemley . Matthew . Bend It Like Beckham musical to open at the Phoenix Theatre in May . . thestage.co.uk . 31 October 2014 . 15 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216012509/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2014/10/bend-like-beckham-musical-open-phoenix-theatre-may/ . 16 February 2015.
  11. Web site: Rigby . Sam . Bend It Like Beckham: Natalie Dew, Lauren Samuels to star in London play . . digitalspy.co.uk . 9 January 2015 . 15 February 2015.
  12. Web site: Bannister . Rosie . Bend it Like Beckham musical comes to West End in 2015 . WhatsOnStage . whatsonstage.com . 31 October 2014 . 3 November 2014.
  13. Web site: Bend It Like Beckham musical set for West End stage . . bbc.co.uk/news . 31 October 2014 . 3 November 2014.
  14. Web site: Bannister . Rosie . Lauren Samuels and Jamie Campbell Bower star in Bend It Like Beckham musical . WhatsOnStage . whatsonstage.com . 9 January 2015 . 12 January 2015.
  15. Web site: Smith . Matt . UK's BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM Now Booking Through October 2015 . BroadwayWorld . broadwayworld.com . 20 January 2015 . 23 January 2015.
  16. Web site: Natalie Dew and Lauren Samuels to lead Bend It Like Beckham cast . . thestage.co.uk . 9 January 2015 . 12 January 2015.
  17. Web site: Natalie Dew to Star as 'Jess' in West End's BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM Musical . BroadwayWorld . broadwayworld.com . 8 January 2015 . 12 January 2015.
  18. Web site: 'Bend It Like Beckham' musical to hit London theatre in May . Business Standard . business-standard.com . 12 January 2015 . 12 January 2015.
  19. Web site: Rigler . Natasha . EastEnders' Preeya Kalidas to star in Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical . Reveal Magazine . reveal.co.uk . 9 January 2015 . 12 January 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150109234656/http://www.reveal.co.uk/lifestyle/news/a620432/eastenders-preeya-kalidas-to-star-in-bend-it-like-beckham-the-musical.html . 9 January 2015.
  20. Web site: Bannister . Rosie . Sophie-Louise Dann replaces Ronni Ancona in Bend It Like Beckham . WhatsOnStage . whatsonstage.com . 13 April 2015 . 13 April 2015.
  21. Web site: Shenton . Mark . West End's Bend It Like Beckham to Shutter in March . . playbill.com . 13 January 2016 . 4 August 2022.
  22. Web site: Maga . Carly . Bend It Like Beckham stage musical coming to Toronto . Toronto Star . 7 May 2019.
  23. Phoenix Theatre Programme . Bend It Like Beckham the Musical . 15 May 2015 . 26.
  24. Phoenix Theatre Programme . Bend It Like Beckham the Musical . 15 May 2015 . 25.
  25. Web site: Shenton . Mark . West End's Bend It Like Beckham Musical Casts Its Complete Team . . playbill.com . 9 January 2015 . 4 August 2022.
  26. Web site: 2016-11-28. 2015 Results Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. 2020-12-06. en-GB.
  27. Web site: 2015-11-02. Evening Standard Theatre Awards: Full list of nominees. 2020-12-06. Evening Standard. en.
  28. Web site: 2015-11-23. Evening Standard Theatre Awards: Who won and why. 2020-12-06. Evening Standard. en.
  29. Web site: Olivier Winners 2016. 2020-12-06. Olivier Awards. en-GB.

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