Royo, Universal Music Uk, Sony Music Entertainment & Mighty Village are delighted to announce the world premiere of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, a brand-new British musical written by award-winning comedian Pippa Evans and directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood. NOW That’s What I Call A Musical will begin performances on 6 September 2024 at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre before commencing a major U.K. and Ireland tour.
Get ready to relive the playlist of your life by celebrating 40 years of the iconic and chart-topping compilations brand NOW That’s What I Call Music, which has sold an estimated 200 million copies worldwide. This fun-filled evening is bursting with hits from Whitney Houston, Wham! Blondie, Tears For Fears, Spandau Ballet and so many more.
It’s Birmingham, 1989. Two school friends, Gemma and April, are busy with very important business - planning their lives based on Number One Magazine quizzes and dreaming of snogging Rick Astley. Cut to Birmingham 2009 and it’s the most dreaded event of their lives– the school reunion. Drama, old flames and receding hairlines come together as friends reunite and everything from the past starts to slot into place. The biggest question is: what was with all that hairspray?
Craig Revel Horwood said “This is a beautiful and funny story about two schoolgirls navigating life through their shared love of music. Pippa has written a script that takes you right back to sharing your Walkman headphones with your best friend, escaping the boring day to day and dancing like nobody is watching. Everybody remembers getting the latest NOW That’s What I Call Music Album! Our show is packed full of the biggest hits of the era and I cannot wait to get started and you will love it.”
Pippa Evans said “Writing NOW That’s What I Call A Musical! has been an absolute delight, weaving this funny, heart-warming story around such a fantastic collection of songs. September 2024 can't come soon enough!”
Jamii Layton, Managing Director of NOW That’s What I Call Music said, “Now That’s What I Call Music will be 40 years old in November, and with our albums having become such an integral part of the soundtrack of peoples’ lives over that time, it is thrilling for the brand to be headlining such a warm and fun-packed show. NOW has always celebrated the creative diversity and all-round magic of pop music. This combination of a life-affirming story and fantastic music selection will make such a strong connection with the audience. It’s a great way for NOW to salute our legacy and also look forward to the future, continuing to celebrate the best in past and present hits.”
The creative team will include Set and Costume Design by Tom Rogers & Toots Butcher, Musical Supervision and Arrangements by Mark Crossland, Lighting Design by Ben Cracknell, Sound Design by Adam Fisher, Wigs & Hair Design by Sam Cox, Associate Choreography by Aaron Renfree and Casting by Annelie Powell CDG.
NOW is produced by ROYO, Universal Music UK, SONY Music Entertainment and Mighty Village.
2024 / 2025 TOUR SCHEDULE
6 – 7 September Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
10 – 14 September Sheffield Lyceum 0114 249 6000
17 – 21 September Canterbury Marlowe Theatre 01227 787787
24 – 28 September Nottingham Theatre Royal 0115 989 5555
1 – 5 October Norwich Theatre Royal 01603 630 000
8 – 12 October Newcastle Theatre Royal 0191 232 7010
15 – 19 October Bradford Alhambra Theatre 01274 432000
22 – 26 October Dartford Orchard Theatre 01322 220000
29 October – 2 November Cardiff New Theatre 0343 310 0041
5 – 9 November Truro Hall For Cornwall 01872 262466
12 – 16 November Milton Keynes Theatre
19 – 23 November Belfast Grand Opera House
14 – 18 January Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre 02380 711811
21 – 25 January Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre 0818719 377 (ROI)
28 January – 1 February Manchester Opera House
4 – 8 February Hull New Theatre 01482 300 306
11 – 15 February Southend Cliffs Pavilion
18 – 22 February Glasgow Kings Theatre
25 February – 1 March Edinburgh Playhouse
4 – 8 March Liverpool Empire Theatre
11 – 15 March Birmingham Alexandra
18 – 22 March York Grand Opera House
25 – 29 March Oxford New Theatre
1 – 5 April Bristol Hippodrome
8 – 12 April London New Wimbledon Theatre
