The task of transforming a popular movie into a stage musical is a tough challenge that has brought successes (Billy Elliot), and disappointments (Made in Dagenham), so Gurinder Chadha's idea of bringing her 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham to the West End was an intriguing one.
The majority of the feel and the plot of the original film remains in the musical. Set in suburban west London, it focuses on Jess, who worships David Beckham and has a desire to play football that doesn't fit in with her Punjabi Indian parents' plans.
She secretly plays for her local women's football team and soon falls in love with coach Joe, which creates a difficult love triangle with her best friend Jules, a role which helped transform Keira Knightley into an international star.
The film's musical leaning lends itself well for a musical adaptation, and composer Howard Goodall and lyricist Charles Hart...
The majority of the feel and the plot of the original film remains in the musical. Set in suburban west London, it focuses on Jess, who worships David Beckham and has a desire to play football that doesn't fit in with her Punjabi Indian parents' plans.
She secretly plays for her local women's football team and soon falls in love with coach Joe, which creates a difficult love triangle with her best friend Jules, a role which helped transform Keira Knightley into an international star.
The film's musical leaning lends itself well for a musical adaptation, and composer Howard Goodall and lyricist Charles Hart...
- 6/25/2015
- Digital Spy
Gurinder Chadha and the cast of the West End show Bend It Like Beckham last night revealed the first song ‘UB2’ from the highly anticipated musical.
The song is a tribute to Southall (postcode UB2) and features the cast setting the scene for the show.The accompanying video was shot on the streets of Southall before rehearsals began. The cast spent a day singing, dancing and stopping traffic, and took over one of the most iconic streets in west London.
Chadha said of the filming and the track: “UB2 is where Jess lives, and where I lived. We wanted to get people to start to feel the essence and heart of the music, and the best way was to bring it to life here in the heart of the community.”
London previews begin for the new British musical Bend It Like Beckham on 15 May 2015 with opening night on 24 June 2015.
Natalie Dew...
The song is a tribute to Southall (postcode UB2) and features the cast setting the scene for the show.The accompanying video was shot on the streets of Southall before rehearsals began. The cast spent a day singing, dancing and stopping traffic, and took over one of the most iconic streets in west London.
Chadha said of the filming and the track: “UB2 is where Jess lives, and where I lived. We wanted to get people to start to feel the essence and heart of the music, and the best way was to bring it to life here in the heart of the community.”
London previews begin for the new British musical Bend It Like Beckham on 15 May 2015 with opening night on 24 June 2015.
Natalie Dew...
- 3/18/2015
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Bend It Like Beckham has offered a first look at its West End cast.
A stage adaptation of the 2002 film will open at the Phoenix Theatre in London on June 24, with previews from May 15.
Natalie Dew will lead the cast of the play as football-crazy Jess, with Lauren Samuels playing Jules and Jamie Campbell Bower in the role of coach Joe.
Ronni Ancona, Jamal Andréas, Preeya Kalidas, Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke will also star in the play.
Gurinder Chadha will direct the adaptation of her own hit film, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart and a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Chadha.
The original film starred Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Shaznay Lewis and Archie Panjabi.
Tickets for Bend It Like Beckham are on sale now.
A stage adaptation of the 2002 film will open at the Phoenix Theatre in London on June 24, with previews from May 15.
Natalie Dew will lead the cast of the play as football-crazy Jess, with Lauren Samuels playing Jules and Jamie Campbell Bower in the role of coach Joe.
Ronni Ancona, Jamal Andréas, Preeya Kalidas, Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke will also star in the play.
Gurinder Chadha will direct the adaptation of her own hit film, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart and a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Chadha.
The original film starred Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Shaznay Lewis and Archie Panjabi.
Tickets for Bend It Like Beckham are on sale now.
- 2/27/2015
- Digital Spy
Gurinder Chadha’s hit film Bend It Like Beckham is being readied for the West End stage and following a host of auditions and workshops, the cast for the highly anticipated stage version Bend It Like Beckham the Musical has been formally announced.
Natalie Dew will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women’s football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe. The three young leads will be supported by some familiar faces, including comedian Ronni Ancona who plays Paula, Jules’s Mum, with Jamal Andréas as Jess’ good friend Tony.
Preeya Kalidas who appeared in the original film as one of the cousins, will take on the role of Pinky, Jess’ sister and Tony Jayawardena andNatasha Jayetileke take on the all important roles of her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.
Jess needs extra time. She is facing...
Natalie Dew will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women’s football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe. The three young leads will be supported by some familiar faces, including comedian Ronni Ancona who plays Paula, Jules’s Mum, with Jamal Andréas as Jess’ good friend Tony.
Preeya Kalidas who appeared in the original film as one of the cousins, will take on the role of Pinky, Jess’ sister and Tony Jayawardena andNatasha Jayetileke take on the all important roles of her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.
Jess needs extra time. She is facing...
- 1/13/2015
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
The world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart, a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha, has found its leading lady. The Daily Mail writes that newcomer Natalie Dew will star as 'Jess' at the Phoenix Theatre this summer.
- 1/9/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
New stage musical Bend It Like Beckham will have its world premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End next spring.
Gurinder Chadha will direct the adaptation of her own 2002 hit movie, with original music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart and a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Chadha.
"Developing Bend It Like Beckham for the stage has been the most enjoyable creative process of my career so far," Chadha said.
"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."
She continued: "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 wholeheartedly British.
Gurinder Chadha will direct the adaptation of her own 2002 hit movie, with original music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart and a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Chadha.
"Developing Bend It Like Beckham for the stage has been the most enjoyable creative process of my career so far," Chadha said.
"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."
She continued: "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 wholeheartedly British.
- 10/31/2014
- Digital Spy
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Q: I´ve been reading the Kathy Griffin book and while it was much less fun than I was hoping for, there was something that really annoyed me -- besides the fact that in her world "the gays" is a synonym for hair dresser or shopping buddy. Kinda makes me wish she´d actually let me at her hair to change that attitude. Anyway, in the book she says that Andy Dick got punched in the face by Wesley Snipes for using (and I quote) "the n-word" in a club. Later there is another Dick story about one of his stand-up appearances where he called the audience repeatedly (and I quote again) "faggots.” So why isn´t it "the n-word" and "the f-word" Or "nigger" and "faggot"? -- Thomas,...
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