Over 140,000 new tickets are released for sale today (14th August 2015) for the critically acclaimed five-star West End production of Bend It Like Beckham The Musical, now booking at the Phoenix Theatre to 20th February 2016.
Also announced today is that the original cast album is now available to buy on digital platforms including iTunes and Amazon mp3. This will be followed on 11th September 2015 with the release of the CD by Sony Classical, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Recorded over several performances at the Phoenix Theatre to capture the excitement of a live performance, with music and lyrics by Howard Goodall and Charles Hart, the Bend It Like Beckham original cast album features seventeen tracks from the show including Girl Perfect, Heer, Bend It, People Like Us, UB2 and Glorious.
The cast is led by Natalie Dew who plays 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. Sophie-Louise Dann plays the role of Paula with Jamal Andréas as Jess’ good friend Tony. Preeya Kalidas plays Pinky, Jess’ sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.
Sohm Kapila, Buckso Dhillon-Woolley and Harveen Mann play Aunties, Irvine Iqbal and Karl Seth play Uncles, with Sejal Keshwala, Serina Mathew and Sharan Phull as Cousins. Rakesh Boury, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall, Tom Millen, Daniel Bolton play footballers, with Teetu played by Raj Bajaj. The Harriers are played by Michelle Bishop, Lisa Bridge, Chloe Chambers, Genesis Lynea,
Kayleigh McKnight, Leanne Pinder, Kirstie Skivington and Danielle Young. Rekha Sawhney and Shahid Khan are the production’s Indian Heritage Singers.
Bend It Like Beckham The Musical is a celebratory fusion of culture, music, emotions and fun, bursting with warmth, humour and heart. Jess needs extra time. She is facing the most important decision of her life: live up to family expectations of university, career and marriage, or follow in the footsteps of her hero David Beckham. When the talented teenager is spotted playing football in Southall, a world of unexpected opportunities opens up before her. But as her sister’s traditional Indian wedding approaches, can she keep her family happy and still follow her dreams?
With lyrics by Charles Hart, music by Howard Goodall the original cast album of Bend It Like Beckham The Musical also features Rail Gaddi music by Kuljit Bhamra, Sadaa Charhdi Kalaa and Sacheh Bahd Shah Punjabi texts by Gurinder Chadha. Orchestrations by Howard Goodall and Kuljit Bhamra, electronic rhythm sequences are programmed by Howard Goodall and musical direction is by Nigel Lilley. Live sound (theatre) is designed by Richard Brooker, assisted by Ross Portway. Live sound (theatre) is mixed by Roisine Mamdani, assisted by Michaela O’Brien. The album is mixed and engineered by Gary Thomas, assisted by Joshua Thomas at Vale Audio Facilities and mastered by Ben Turner. The live album Creative Producer and Editor is Howard Goodall and the Executive Producer is Tris Penna.
Directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart, Bend It Like Beckham The Musical has a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges & Gurinder Chadha; choreography and musical staging by Aletta Collins; set design by Miriam Buether; costume design by Katrina Lindsay; lighting design by Neil Austin; sound design by Richard Brooker; musical direction by Nigel Lilley and orchestrations by Howard Goodall & Kuljit Bhamra.
Bend It Like Beckham The Musical is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Deepak Nayar Productions, Bend It Films, Fischer & Vaswani Productions, Tanya Link Productions & Zeilinger Productions, Lost Marbles & Two Way Split, Delman Jacobson, DOIT Media & Entertainment (India) and Reliance Entertainment.