New images – Bend It Like Beckham cast heads to rehearsal via Southall

Before rehearsals began, the West End cast of Bend It Like Beckham spent the day in Southall, West London, where the story of the musical is set, so here is a sneak peek at what they got up (images by Uli Weber).

London previews begin for the new British musical Bend It Like Beckham on 15 May 2015 with opening night on 24 June 2015. In January a further 200,000 tickets were released for sale at the Phoenix Theatre, taking bookings to 24 October 2015.

Natalie Dew 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. Ronni Ancona will play Paula, Jules’ Mum, with Jamal Andréasas Jess’ good friend Tony. Preeya Kalidas plays Pinky, Jess’ sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetilekeas her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.

Directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart, Bend It Like Beckham has a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and 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 and Kuljit Bhamra. Bend It Like Beckham is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Deepak Nayar Productions and Bend It Films.

Opening week’s ticket prices for Bend It Like Beckham are £15–£49.50 with some ‘Book It Like Beckham’ seats at £15 each in prime positions throughout the house. For group bookings there is a 5-a-side rate of £49.50 per ticket and an 11-a-side rate of £39.50.

On film, the British comedy drama Bend It Like Beckham starred Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Shaznay Lewis and Archie Panjabi, and was released in 2002, directed by Gurinder Chadha and written by Chadha, Guljit Bindra and Paul Mayeda Berges. Following the international release of Bend It Like Beckham the film, produced by Deepak Nayar and Gurinder Chadha, went on to win multiple awards worldwide.

www.benditlikebeckhamthemusical.co.uk