Spice Girls musical Viva Forever

Musical based on the songs of the Spice Girls comes to London in 2012.

Viva Forever, a brand new show that features the songs of the Spice Girls, one of the world’s most successful girl groups, will come to London in 2012. Produced by Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer, Viva Forever will have a book by Ab Fab’s Jennifer Saunders.

War Horse director Marianne Elliott was to have helmed the production but has since left the show.

Viva Forever is a modern fable of camaraderie, love and loyalty based on the songs of the Spice Girls.

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Emma Bunton talks new Spice Girls musical Viva Forever!

Emma Bunton returned to Heart FM last week following the birth of her second child. In an interview with Tobi Anstis she talks briefly about the new Spice Girls musical Viva Forever!

The new show, which has been written by Jennifer Saunders and will be directed by War Horse’s Marianne Elliott, is based on the songs of the Spice Girls and promises to be a modern fable of camaraderie, love and loyalty.

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Marianne Elliott to direct new Spice Girls musical Viva Forever

Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer has confirmed that her new musical project, Viva Forever, will be directed by British theatre director Marianne Elliott.

Viva Forever, which is based on the songs of the Spice Girls and promises to be a modern fable of camaraderie, love and loyalty, has been written by Jennifer Saunders.

Marianne Elliott has worked for the Royal Exchange, Royal Court, RSC and National Theatre and is most famous for her direction, along with Tom Morris, of the National Theatre’s War Horse, which is currently playing at the New London Theatre in London and has recently opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on Broadway to rave reviews. Her other productions include Saint Joan at the National starring Anne-Marie Duff and Alan Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings.

Judy Craymer said in a statement that Marianne Elliott has a “theatrical aptitude for exploring strong women and their relationships and her meticulousness to detail she is absolutely the right person to direct this new musical which is all about female friendship, celebrity and fame”.

Simon Fuller, the Spice Girls’ manager, said, “The girls and I are delighted that one of the most brilliant female theatre directors Marianne Elliott is to direct Viva Forever. Judy, Jennifer and now Marianne, make an eminent team.”

The show is expected to premiere in London at the end of 2012.

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Marianne Elliott to Direct Viva Forever the Musical Based On the Songs of The Spice Girls

Judy Craymer’s new musical, VIVA FOREVER, a modern fable of camaraderie, love and loyalty based on the songs of the Spice Girls, is to be directed by one of the most illustrious British theatre directors Marianne Elliott.

In confirming the announcement, Judy said: “I am delighted that Marianne has agreed to direct VIVA FOREVER. With her theatrical aptitude for exploring strong women and their relationships and her meticulousness to detail she is absolutely the right person to direct this new musical which is all about female friendship, celebrity and fame. I’m so happy to have her on board, together with Jennifer Saunders, who has written the musical.”

Marianne Elliott started her career in the mid-nineties having graduated in drama from the Hull University. Her credits include work at the Royal Exchange, Royal Court, and the RSC before she joined the National Theatre as an Associate in 2006. Credits for the National Theatre include War Horse (co-directed with Tom Morris and which has just opened to much critical acclaim on Broadway), Pillars of the Community, Therese Raquin, Saint Joan, All’s Well That Ends Well, Harper Regan, Mrs Affleck and most recently with Thomas Middleton’s Woman Beware Women and Alan Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings.

Simon Fuller, the Spice Girls’ manager, said, “The girls and I are delighted that one of the most brilliant female theatre directors Marianne Elliott is to direct VIVA FOREVER. Judy, Jennifer and now Marianne, make an eminent team.”

VIVA FOREVER is produced by Judy Craymer in association with Universal Music, Simon Fuller and the Spice Girls.

VIVA FOREVER, a romantic comedy musical, based on the songs of the Spice Girls, is expected to open in the West End towards the end of 2012.

Release issued by: Borkowski

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Jennifer Saunders to pen Spice Girls show

The producer of Mamma Mia! has commissioned Jennifer Saunders to write the book for the new Spice Girls musical.

Judy Craymer, who has become a multi-millionaire by producing the stage and movie versions of the ABBA show, will produce new West End musical Viva Forever using the girl group’s songs. The show is slated to open in the West End in 2012.

The musical will follow a similar pattern to Mamma Mia!, using the band’s back catalogue but woven into a new story. It won’t be a bio-musical of the singers.

Judy Craymer said in a statement that, “having Jennifer Saunders on board is the best possible start Viva Forever can have. Jennifer is brilliant at writing about these themes and the Spice Girls’ songs connect powerfully in a smart and moving way.”

Billed as a romantic comedy musical, the contemporary tale will be about a group of young women, with a particular focus on one girl and her mother – mirroring the storyline of Mamma Mia! The show will also uphold the spirit of the Spice Girls, using essences of their personalities within the key characters and centring on camaraderie, love and loyalty.

Jennifer Saunders, who has won five BAFTA awards, has forged a successful career as a comedienne, scriptwriter and actress including a long comedy partnership with Dawn French as well as writing BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. She said she is “thrilled and terrified at the same time” about the project.

The show is also backed by Universal Music, the Spice Girls’ manager Simon Fuller and the Spice Girls themselves. Simon Fuller, credited as being the most successful British music manager of all time, said earlier in the year that, “what Judy has achieved with her all-conquering box office smash hit Mamma Mia! and what the Spice Girls created with their powerful record-breaking mix of ‘girl power’ and hit songs, has influenced pop culture more than anyone can imagine”.

Craymer recently told the Daily Mail that the story will reveal the darker side of search-for-a-star TV talent shows, although hopefully not Spice Girl Emma Bunton’s recent attempt at the genre, channel Five’s unsuccessful Don’t Stop Believing.

Mel C Triumphs in Blood Brothers

Former Spice Girl Melanie C made her stage debut in front of West End critics this week playing the lead role in Blood Brothers, and has been hailed a triumph.

The pop star took the role of Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell’s emotional and powerful musical set in Liverpool. The show has been running for 21 years in the West End, most recently at the Phoenix Theatre.

Fiona Mountford from the Evening Standard said that the show “rings out as a rich, detailed and desperately moving piece of work”, largely thanks to Melanie C’s “terrific stage debut”. Along with praise for her singing, “Mel C delicately captures every changing tone”, her acting is also commended, “the arc she traces as the indomitable matriarch is strong and sure, with her climactic anguish so evidently felt that it’s almost unwatchable.”

Charles Spencer of the Telegraph said that she is “absolutely sensational… Melanie C gives one of those performances that grips with its emotional truth from the start and never loosens its grip. In every scene she seems to be living spontaneously in the moment, she sings with superb power and feeling, and ranges from warm comedy to the bitter depths of anguish.”

The overall production also fared well with the critics, with Spencer saying that, “Bill Kenwright’s production remains fresh and intense and leaves no doubt that the show belongs among the greats of British musical theatre”.

Evening Standard – Fiona Mountford

Telegraph – Charles Spencer

Save up to Half Price on Tickets to Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre

Blood Brothers – Half Price

Save Half Price on tickets to see Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre in London

Written by the legendary Willy Russell, Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.

The incredible score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True. Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time – scooping up no less than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway – Blood Brothers is celebrating 21 years in London’s West End.

Westendtheatre.com users can now save Half Price on tickets to see Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre in London

“A MIRACLE! STILL UNMISSABLE AND UNBEATABLE” The Spectator.

“GRIPPING, GRITTY AND SUPERBLY HUMMABLE – IT’S A MUST!” Mail On Sunday.

“THE BEST MUSICAL IN THE WEST END” The Mirror.

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Spice Girl to join Blood Brothers

Melanie Chisholm, otherwise known as Sporty Spice from the Spice Girls, is to make her West End debut next month in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre.

Playing the lead role of Mrs Johnstone, Mel C, 35, joins a roll call of famous theatrical ladies who have played the part including Barbara Dickson, Petula Clark, Kiki Dee and currently X-Factor runner-up Nikki Evans.

Willy Russell’s dramatic musical about a pair of twins from Liverpool who are separated at birth only to cross paths later in life has run successfully at the Phoenix Theatre since 1991 and remains one of London’s most popular and successful shows.

Mel C will start performances on 26 October.

Save £29 on tickets to Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre