WHO’S WON OVER THE WEST END?

Crammed with chart- topping tunes from legendary artists, jukebox musicals like Gloria’s new venture seem destined to be smash-hits. And they are – most of the time...

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Opening in the West End in 2018 (below centre), the story of Tina’s life was nominated for best new musical at the Olivier Awards.

BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Making its debut in 1989 in London, it was a huge hit and ran for more than 5,800 shows.

WE WILL ROCK YOU Though critically panned when it opened in 2002, this futuristic comedy set to 24 of Queen’s greatest hits became hugely popular and ran for more than 12 years in London.

BEAUTIFUL

(left) Carole King’s back catalogue, combined with her life story, made for sell-out performances in the West End from 2015-2017.

BAT OUT OF HELL – THE MUSICAL When it revved into the West End in 2017 (right), this show based on Meat Loaf’s music was described as a ‘bonkers, black-clad, doom-laden night of Wagnerian schlock’ by the Mail. It returned for a second run but closed in January.

JERSEY BOYS The toe-tapping musical used the songs of The Four Seasons to chart their rise and fall. Doors closed in 2017 after nine years of critical praise.

DUSTY ‘Oh, Dusty, what did you do to deserve this?’ said the Mail of this troubled West End musical about Dusty Springfield, which opened in 2015. Off-key brass playing, missed cues and a clunky script proved you need more than great songs to make a great show.