REVIEW: Bend it like Beckham at the Phoenix Theatre

This musical is incredibly dated, I am shocked to see how many stereotypes are used in the production. It is 2015, the vast majority of the public do not find stereotypes funny anymore. We have moved on, we do not need every single indian character to be the comic relief and a cultural stereotype that is 10 years out of date. And why were all the female footballers butch women? This is dated and actually quite offensive. I find it very lazy that the writers and director have gone down this route because its not what we need in our society and its incredibly unimaginative. Its a shame because the aunts in the show had quite a few funny moments, but because every single indian character was matched up to them in the writing it meant nothing was funny. 

Made in Dagenham cast announced

Gemma Arterton will star in the musical adaptation of Made in Dagenham, which premieres at the Adelphi Theatre on 5 November 2014 (previews from 9 October). Directed by Almeida artistic director Rupert Goold, the show has a book by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) with music from David Arnold (musical director of several Bond films and the Olympics closing ceremony) and lyrics by Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer: The Opera).

Made in Dagenham dramatises the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968 that aimed for equal pay for women. The film was released in 2010 starring Sally Hawkins.

The production will star Gemma Arterton in the lead role of Rita O'Grady, with Adrian Der Gregorian (Sweet Smell of Success, The Woman in White) as her husband Eddie. Arterton appeared in the workshop version of the show in 2012, and said: "It's an important story that I'm passionate about telling, and we intend to tell it with wit, warmth and, of course, a lot of singing and dancing in this production."