Pretty Woman The Musical comes to Southampton Mayflower Theatre
INSPIRED by Hollywood’s much loved rom-com, Pretty Woman The Musical will open at Southampton Mayflower Theatre later this month.
The show, which is currently on a UK and Ireland tour, stars Amber Davies as Vivian Ward, Ore Oduba as Happy Man/Mr Thompson, Oliver Savile as Edward Lewis and Natalie Paris as Kit De Luca.
The cast are also joined by Becky Anderson, Rebekah Bryant, Josh Damer-Jennings, Ben Darcy, Andrew Davison, Lila Falce-Bass, Noah Harrison, Sydnie Hocknell, Elly Jay, Rachael Kendall Brown, Michael Kholwadia, Joshua Lear, Stuart Maciver, Victoria Rachael McCabe, Eleanor Morrison-Halliday, LJ Neilson, Annell Odartey, Curtis Patrick and Chomba Taulo.
Based on the smash hit film which turned Julia Roberts into a superstar, Pretty Woman has enjoyed record-breaking runs on Broadway and in the West End, as well as on a US tour.
The director of the film and co-writer of the musical Garry Marshall sadly passed away in 2016, after working on the production with the movie’s writer JF Lawton for many years and dreaming it might open in New York someday.
His wife Barbara said: “Had someone told him it would such a hit around the world he wouldn’t have believed it. Not only did it make it to Broadway, it’s bringing joy to so many people in so many other places.”
Set in the late-’80s and released in 1990, Pretty Woman was conceived as a much darker story, with LA streetwise sex worker Vivian (Roberts) struggling with cocaine addiction and Edward (Gere), the rich businessman who hires her for a week, abandoning her at the end.
But Garry, known for his heart-warming stories and flair for comedy, worked closely with screenwriter Lawton to refashion it as a fairytale rom-com in which Vivian falls for Edward’s charms and she rescues him right back.
Pretty Woman The Musical also features a blazing rock score from Grammy winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Summer of ‘69, Heaven), with direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray).
It is on stage at Southampton Mayflower Theatre from 22nd to 27th July and tickets are from £24.50 to £49.50. For more information and bookings visit www.mayflower.org.uk
